mm 


^•mH 


THE 


HEIEESSES  OF  FOTHERINGAY. 


Jounhfc  on  Jfacf. 


BT 


AUGUST  IN    KENNEKLY. 


Saint  Conis: 

PUBLISHED  BY   E.    K.   WOODWARD. 
1856. 


KNTKRED  ACCORDING  TO  ACT  OF  CONGRESS  IN  THE  TEAK  1856, 

BY  T.  B.  PETERSON, 

IN  TUB  CLZPK'S  OFFICE  OF  THE  DISTRICT  COURT  OF  THB  UNITED  STATES,  IN   AND 
FOB  THE  EASTERN  DISTRICT  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Stbitalioit. 


WHATEVER    OF   MERIT,    OR   ITS    OPPOSITE, 
THE   FOLLOWING    PAGES    MAT   PARTAKE    OF,    THEY   ARE, 

WITH   ALL   THAT 

FERVENCY    OF  AFFECTION, 

WHICH   CAN   POSSIBLY  ANIMATE   THE    BOSOM 

OF  A    RELATIVE, 
DEDICATED  TO  MI  BELOVED  NIECE, 

Miss  Harriette  C.  Kennerly. 

Th«  Author. 


(3) 


2Q6181O 


THE 


HEIRESSES  OF   FOTHERINGAY; 

A 

TALE    FOUNDED    ON    FACT. 


CHAPTEE    I. 

Suavity  is  to  the  mind,  as  the  idea  of  Heaven  is  to  the  soul. 

THE  sun  had  finished  his  daily  course,  succeeded  by 
a  clear,  yet  cold  moonlight  night,  in  the  month  of 
January,  when  three  gentlemen,  merchants  from  the 
city  of  New  York,  dismounted  at  the  door  of  a  coun- 
try tavern,  near  the  foot  of  that  range  of  mountains 
known  as  the  Alleghanies,  and  which  at  that  point 
throws  its  piny  and  cloud-capped  peaks,  across  the 
Valley  of  Virginia. 

Our  travellers  were  soon  comfortably  situated,  and 
in  the  enjoyment  of  a  warm  fire,  made  of  hickory 
wood,  the  brisk  and  bright  blaze  of  which,  together 
with  the  neatness  of  every  thing  in  the  room,  induced 
the  belief  with  them,  that  the  house  at  which  they 
had  stopped  for  that  night  among  the  mountains  was 
one  far  above  mean  notoriety. 

"  You  will  please  excuse  this  intrusion  upon  your 
privacy,  gentlemen — when,  according  to  the  custom  of 
those  of  us,  who  keep  houses  of  entertainment  in  this 

(5) 


6  THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHEKINGAY. 

State,  and  more  particularly  after  the  cold  ride  you 
have  had  to-day — when  I  bring  for  your  use,  and  I 
hope  comfort,  if  you  will  partake  of  it,  a  bottle  of  ten 
year  old  peach  brandy,  with  a  little  honey  and  sugar 
if  you  like  the  addition  of  either,  all  of  which  is  at  your 
service." 

"  You  are  kind,  landlord,"  said  the  elder  gentleman, 
"and,  if  this  specimen  of  the  anticipated  wishes  of 
your  guests  is  only  the  prelude  of  what  may  be  ex- 
pected of  you,  you  may  have  some  one  or  perhaps  all  of 
us  here  a  longer  time  than  for  the  present  night  alone, 
in  this  dreary  and  inclement  season." 

"You  are  complimentary;  yet  believe  me,  sir, 
should  your  home  among  these  mountains  for  a  longer 
or  a  shorter  time,  be  my  house,  it  shall  be  my  aim 
as  well  as  that  of  my  family  to  make  your  stay  an 
agreeable  one,"  was  the  response.  At  that  moment, 
the  sound  of  a  small  bell  in  the  "  bar-room,"  attracted 
his  attention,  and  bowing  with  a  courtesy  betokening 
the  gentleman,  the  landlord  withdrew  from  their 
presence,  leaving  the  guests  to  partake  at  their  leisure 
of  his  hospitality.  The  gentlemen  had  just  seated 
themselves,  after  partaking  of  it,  when  a  tap  was  made 
at  the  door  of  their  room  followed  by  the  entry  of 
a  servant,  informing  them  that  their  supper  was 
ready. 

"  That  is  welcome  news,  for  I  am  really  hungry," 
said  one  of  the  younger  gentlemen,  as  they  passed 
through  a  lighted  hall,  conducted  by  the  servant. 
Upon  entering  the  dining-room,  they  discovered,  seated 
at  the  table  and  awaiting  their  arrival,  a  lady  whose 
appearance  would  justify  the  conclusion  of  her  having 
lived  some  forty  years.  She  was  a  model  of  affability 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  7 

and  kindness,  united  to  all  that  amiability  which  so 
eminently  distinguished  the  matrons  of  the  State  in 
which  the  scene  of  this  tale  is  laid. 

The  strangers  had  scarcely  begun  to  partake  of  their 
plain,  yet  palatable  supper,  ere  the  sound  of  music 
was  heard  ;  it  emanated  from  one  of  the  private  apart- 
ments, and  in  a  room  as  they  supposed,  adjoining  the 
one  in  which  they  were  seated.  Soon  after,  two  female 
voices  were  heard  accompanied  by  the  music  of  a 
piano-forte  and  guitar. 

The  words  were: 

v 

"  Winds  of  the  winter  night,  whence  comest  thou  ; 
And  whither,  oh  whither,  art  wandering  now? 
Sad,  sad  is  thy  voice  on  the  desolate  moor, 
And  mournful,  oh  mournful,  thy  howl  at  my  door.  * 

Say  where  hast  thou  been  on  thy  cloud-lifted  car — 
Say  what  hast  thou  seen  in  thy  roamings  afar  ? 
Oh,  what  sorrow  impels  thee  through  boisterous  blast, 
Thus  to  mourn  and  complain,  as  thou  journeyest  past? 
I  have  come  from  the  deep  where  the  storm  in  its  wrath 
Spread  havoc  and  death  on  the  pitiless  path ; 
Where  the  billows  rose  up  as  the  lightning  flew  by, 
And  twisted  its  arms  in  the  dim-colored  sky. 
I  have  been  where  the  snow  on  the  chill  mountain-peak, 
Would  have  frozen  the  beam  on  the  ruddiest  cheek. 
And  for  many  a  dreary  and  desolate  day, 
No  beam  of  the  sunshine  has  lighted  my  way. 
And  I  saw  a  frail  vessel  all  torn  by  the  wave, 
Borne  down  with  her  crew  to  a  fathomless  grave ; 
And  I  heard  the  loud  creak  of  her  hull  as  I  past, 
And  the  flap  of  her  sails  and  the  crack  of  her  mast. 
But  it  smote  on  mine  ear  like  the  tocsin  of  death, 
As  she  struggled  and  strove  with  the  waters  for  breath; 
'Tis  her  requiem  I  time,  as  I  howl  through  the  sky, 
And  repent  of  the  fury  that  caused  her  to  die." 


8  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY 

During  the  time  occupied  by  the  song,  not  a  word 
was  heard,  except  now  and  then  an  inquiry  from  the 
lady  already  mentioned,  with  regard  to  the  further 
wishes  of  her  guests.  Have  you  supped?  For  long 
before  the  last  line  of  the  song, 

"  And  repent  of  the  fury  that  caused  her  to  die — " 

had  been  sung — the  travellers  had  ceased  to  gratify 
their  physical,  but  sat  enveloped  in  profound  silence 
and  mute  attention,  indulging  their  (at  that  time) 
ravenous,  sensual  appetites. 

The  supper  fed  their  bodies — 
The  music  fed  their  souls. 

"  Can  I  help  you  to  any  thing  more,  gentlemen  ?" 
continued  the  lady  in  rather  an  emphatic  tone,  and  as 
if  she  wished  not  only  to  render  them  comfortable,  as 
had  been  already  done,  but  in  continuing  to  do  so,  to 
make  them  feel  at  ease,  in  that,  at  the  period  of  which 
I  am  now  speaking,  retired,  yet  enchanting  spot 
amongst  the  mountains. 

"Madam,"  said  the  elder  gentleman,  "your  kind 
civilities  extended  to  us  have  already  surpassed  our 
most  remote  expectations,  and  the  solicitude  you  ap- 
pear to  feel,  from  the  question  just  asked  us,  prompts 
the  conviction  of  a  belief  already  entertained,  not  only 
by  myself,  but  those  also  of  my  junior  fellow  travel- 
lers, that  the  hospitality  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
state  far  excels  that  of  any  other  in  the  Union." 

"  In  behalf  of  my  sex  and  that  of  yours,  embracing 
our  fellow-citizens  of  Virginia,  sir,  I  thank  you  for 
the  compliment — for  I  will  do  myself  the  pleasure  of 
believing  its  author  sincere,"  was  the  reply. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  9 

At  this  moment  her  husband  entered  the  dining- 
apartment,  saying,  "  That  a  party  of  young  men  of  the 
neighborhood,  who  were  about  to  have  a  deer-hunt 
the  next  day,  had  just  arrived,  intending  their  house 
as  "'  head-quarters,'  preparatory  to  the  chase,  and  that 
they  wished  supper  and  field-beds  that  night." 

The  lady  made  an  apology  for  the  necessity  she 
was  under  to  leave  them ;  and  our  travellers  returned 
to  their  chamber.  They  had  been  in  the  room  but  a 
short  time,  when  the  landlord,  accompanied  by  a  ser- 
vant with  a  lantern  in  his  hand,  entered  their  door, 
saying,  "I  am  come,  gentlemen,  to  go  with  and  show 
you,  if  you  wish  to  see  it,  how  your  horses  have  been 
provided  for,  for  the  night,  and  to  know,  if  any  thing, 
what  further  you  would  have  me  do  for  them." 

In  a  short  time,  our  travellers  were  at  the  stalls, 
where  stood  the  horses,  up  to  their  knees  in  dry,  short 
straw ;  their  legs  and  bodies  perfectly  clean,  and  which 
had  been  rubbed  till  they  were  entirely  dry. 

"Nothing  is  more  acceptable  to  the  feelings  of  a  tra- 
veller than  that  of  knowing  his  horse  is  well  taken  care 
of,"  said  the  elder  gentleman,  as  they  were  returning 
from  the  stable  to  the  house. 

"  And  nothing,"  replied  the  landlord,  "adds  more 
to  the  interests  and  fame  of  a  country  tavern-keeper, 
than  to  know  that  his  guests  are  satisfied  with  their 
fare,  such,  as  I  hope  on  the  present  occasion  is  the 
case." 

"  Certainly  so,"  was  the  reply,  just  as  they  were 
entering  the  room. 

Here,  reader,  we  will  leave  them  for  a  while,  speaking 
of  and  spending  their  opinions  upon  the  events  already 
experienced  of  that  night,  while  we  shall  endeavor  to 


10  THE   HEIRESSES    OF   FOTIIERINGAY. 

take  items  of  things  as  they  occurred,  and  in  noticing 
of  them,  try  to  relate  them  to  you  in  such  a  way  as 
may,  we  hope,  be  most  conducive  to  your  amusement 
and  pleasure. 

The  huntsmen,  six  in  number,  had  taken  their 
supper,  and  were  already  in  a  room  warmed  by  a  large 
fire,  composed  of  two  logs  of  hickory  wood,  put  one 
upon  the  top  of  the  other,  called  there  "back -logs," 
and  made  complete  by  a  stout  "  fore-stick,"  with  other 
smaller  ones  between  them.  Nor  was  that  prepara- 
tion against  the  chilling  blasts  of  the  night  the  only 
one,  for  they  had  a  plentiful  supply  of  it  piled  up  in  a 
corner  of  the  room  close  to  the  fire-place,  so  that,  in 
that  cold  region,  where  the  north  wind  blows  as  keen 
and  shrill  as  any  where  else  in  a  winter's  night,  they 
were,  so  far  as  the  article  of  fire  was  concerned,  secure 
from  cold. 

In  a  short  time,  a  "field-bed"  was  added  to  their 
comfort  for  the  night.  It  consisted  of  a  number  of 
blankets  spread  on  the  floor,  in  front  of  the  fire,  with 
as  many  more  to  cover  with,  having  at  its  head  several 
chairs  laid  down  with  their  backs  upwards,  upon 
which  were  deposited,  bolsters  and  a  pillow  for  each 
one  to  lay  his  head,  while  their  feet  lay  toward  the 
fire. 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEBINGAY.  11 


CHAPTER   II. 

"Honor  and  fame  from  no  condition  rise, 
Act  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honor  lies." 

"  SANCO,"  said  one  of  the  hunters  to  a  servant  who 
had  just  finished  their  bed,  and  was  about  leaving  the 
room,  "  has  the  Colonel  retired?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Where  is  he?" 

"  He  is  in  conversation  with  Mr.  Close  in  the 
chamber  of  reception." 

"  With  whom,  did  you  say?" 

"  Mr.  Close." 

"What!  has  he  come?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  How  long  ago  ?" 

"  While  you  gentlemen  were  at  supper." 

"  Who  was  the  messenger  sent  to  him?" 

"  Mr.  Hardy,  sir." 

"  What  I  is  he  here,  too  ?'• 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  When  did  he  come  ?'• 

"  While  the  travellers  were  in  the  stable  looking 
at  their  horses,  sir." 

"  Has  Mr.  Hardy  seen  the  strangers  ?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"Nor  they  him?" 

"  Not  to  my  knowledge,  sir." 


12  THE   HEIBESSES  OF   FOTHERLN'GAY. 

I 

"  Where  did  Mr.  Hardy  cross  the  Eoanoke  river 
when  he  went  for  Mr.  Close  ?" 

"At  the  upper  ford,  sir;  and  I  heard  him  tell  the 
Colonel  that  it  was  a  difficult  job^to  do,  and  that  on 
his  return  the  ice  ran  so  thick  as  to  compel  him  to 
go  round  the  big  bend,  and  cross  at  the  Muscle  Shoal 
ford." 

"Go,  Sanco,"  continued  the  hunter,  "and  ask  the 
Colonel  to  send  us  something  to  drink." 

"  That,  sir,"  replied  Sanco,  "  is  what  I  have  orders 
already  to  do,  and  was  just  going  after  when  you 
began  talking  to  me."  Thus  saying,  Sanco  withdrew, 
and  in  a  few  moments  after  returned  with  a  decanter 
of  fine  peach- brandy,  a  pitcher  of  water  and  glasses, 
and  after  the  gallant  huntsmen  had  made  him  drink 
a  health  to  them  and  success  to  their  schemes,  he 
bade  them  good-night,  and  withdrew. 

A  short  interval  of  profound  silence  ensued  after 
partaking  of  their  respective  glasses  of  brandy  and 
water,  when  our  spokesman  of  the  hunting  party 
again  observed,  "  Well,  boys,  some  deep  design  is 
laid,  and  I  think  some  very  particular  business  is 
near  at  hand  for  us,  in  which  every  man  will  have, 
doubtless,  a  particular  part  to  perform.  You  have 
just  heard  of  Close  and  Hardy  being  here;  there  are 
none  the  equal  of  one  for  discretion,  nor  of  the  other 
for  fatigue.  And  you  know,  also,  with  what  rigor 
the  Colonel's  secretary's  '  Dispatch,  and  right  quick,' 
conducted  the  order  for  us  to  assemble  here  to-night. 
The  memory  of  that  infamous  wretch,  and  pitiless 
scoundrel,  'Rashstep,'  is  still  fresh  amongst  us,  who 
after  having  robbed  and  murdered  his  father,  basely 
insulted  Miss  Miucle.  Hardy  soon  found  and  brought 


THE   HEIRE3SE3   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY.  13 

him  to  justice,  and  Close  was  his  guard  till  he  died 
upon  a  gibbet.  The  Colonel,  as  you  all  know,  never 
deals  in  mystery  without  a  certainty  of  maintaining  and 
carrying  out  his  point  in  the  purposes  held  in  view. 
Nor  has  he,  nor  will  he,  at  any  time,  take  a  part  in 
pantomime,  but  what  must  terminate  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  his  wish.  We  have  beheld  him  to- 
night in  the  character  of  an  inn-keeper,  and  playing 
his  part,  as  you  all  know,  well.  And  we  see  him  in 
pantomime  in  his  instructions  to  us  to  be  silent  upon 
what  he  has  called  us  here  to  do.'  "With  the  fore- 
finger perpendicularly  across  our  lips  we  are  to  salute 
him,  and  with  it  there,  it  is  to  serve  as  an  answer  to 
all  questions  put  to  us  by  strangers,  whose  position 
and  circumstances  in  life  shall,  from  time  to  time, 
make  it  necessary  for  us  to  observe  the  signal  with. 
A  Colonel  in  the  camp  of  the  illustrious  Washington  ! 
a  soldier  of '  76.'  Now  the  rich  gentleman — the  poor 
man's  friend! — the  delight  of  his  neighbors! — the 
father  of  the  beautiful,  accomplished  and  kind- 
hearted  Antoinette,  heiress  of  Fotheringay  —  and 
friend  of  the  no  less  amiable  'Leontine,'  shall  and 
must  be  obeyed  by  me  !" 

"  And  by  me,  too  !"  was  the  immediate  and  unani- 
mous answer  of  his  high-toned  soul  companions. 

"  We  will  now,"  continued  the  huntsman,  "  seal 
our  resolutions  by  taking  another  drink  of  brandy — 
then  go  to  bed,  be  refreshed  by  sleep,  get  up  soon, 
and  wait  for  further  orders  in  the  morning." 

"  I  agree    to  that,"   was    the  second    unanimous 
reply ;    and  in   a   few   moments    after  the   gallant 
hearted  fellows  were  wrapped  in  profound  sleep,  and 
all  was  silent  around  them. 


14  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"  Now  every  passion  sinks  to  rest, 
The  throbbing  heart  lies  still ; 
And  varying  schemes  of  life, 
No  more  distract  the  will." 

With  due  deference  to  the  permission  of  my  read- 
ers, I  shall  return  to  our  travellers,  to  take  some 
notice  of  their  movements,  and  to  try  to  learn  some- 
thing of  how  they  have  thus  far  passed,  and  may 
continue  to  pass,  the  remainder  of  their  first  night  at 
the  "  Mountain  Inn." 

The  bliss  of  a'n  undisturbed  mind  was  not  theirs, 
and  consequently  sleep  had  not  yet  ventured  the 
proposal  of  even  a  temporary  truce  between  their 
eyelids,  and  that  most  distressing  of  all  conditions — 
suspense. 

"  Summing  up  all  the  events  of  our  western  tour 
thus  far,  then  adding  to  it  an  hundred  per  cent.,  all 
of  them  together  would  not  amount  to  one  half  the 
strange  and  unaccounted  for  sensations  I  have  felt 
since  I  partook  of  that  supper  under  the  roof  of  this 
Mountain  Inn;  the  words  of  that  song,  and  those 
unknown  beings  who  so  secretly  added  music  to 
them,  haunt  my  imagination,  distracts  my  senses, 
and  dissipate  all  my  attempts  at  sleep,"  said  the 
younger  stranger,  as  he  arose  from  his  bed,  and 
walked  toward  the  fire,  yet  burning,  and  which  still 
kept  their  room  comfortable. 

"The  disease  is  contagious,"  said  the  elder;  "for  I 
cannot  sleep." 

"  Nor  I,  neither,"  said  the  other  stranger. 

As  Littleton  in  his  commentaries  upon  the  laws  of 
England,  says,  when  desirous  of  giving  relief  to  the 
mind  of  the  student,  "  this  may  suffice  for  the  pre- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  15 

sent,"  so  also,  reader,  I  shall  profit  by  his  example, 
and  again  leaving  my  travellers,  respectfully  invite 
your  attention,  as  well  as  indulgence,  to  go  with  me 
in  the  digression,  while  I  shall  attempt  to  interest 
you  with  things  "which  have  long  since  passed,  but 
which  still  linger  in  memory. 

As  is  already  known,  some  of  the  parties  have 
been  left  asleep,  aud  others  awake,  yet  restless,  who 
are  destined  to  act  conspicuous  parts  in  the  incidents 
herein  detailed,  and  which  are  intended  for  your 
perusal.  I  shall  therefore  close  the  present  chapter, 
and  commence  the  next  one  with  some  account  of 
the  father  of  the  Heiresses  of  Fotheringay,  and  in 
the  succeeding  ones  speak  of  the  singular,  yet  excel- 
lent, traits  of  his  character,  the  birth  and  education 
of  his  daughter,  and  the  adoption  by  him  of  Leontine, 
the  other  heiress. 


CHAPTER    III. 

When  pregnant  nature  strove  relief  to  gain, 
Her  nurse  was  Washington  !  her  midwife  pain  ! 

THE  American  Revolution  had  brought  to  the 
defence  of  her  "Declaration  of  Independence,"  hosts 
of  gallant,  honorable,  and  high-minded  men.  They 
were  found  not  only  in  the  rank  and  file  of  a  poorly 
clad,  yet  sternly  determined  soldiery,  who  felt  a 
guarantee  in  the  assurance  of  victory,  under  the 
disposal  of  an  all-wise  Providence,  in  shouldering 
the  musket  and  sure-shot  rifle,  but  also  in  that  of  the 
more  dignified  stations  of  command. 


16  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

The  justice  of  her  cause,  and  the  success  of  her 
arms,  had  already  created  an  excitement  in  Europe, 
and  soon  the  illustrious  Lafayette  and  his  noble 
followers  were  seen  upon  our  borders,  and  on  their 
march  to  join  the  army  of  our  Heaven-sent  chief! 
Their  forces  were  soon  united,  and  Howe,  with  others 
of  his  Britannic  Majesty's  subjects,  soon  experienced 
the  prowess  of  their  power,  judgment  and  skill. 

General  Green  was  in  the  South,  whose  army  had 
been  joined  by  a  number  of  brave  men,  and  headed 
by  a  number  of  no  less  brave  partizan  leaders. 
Among  them  was  Colonel  George  Leftridge,  and  his 
boyhood  associate  and  friend,  the  intrepid  Major 
James  Laurence. 

The  battle  of  Guilford  was  at  hand.  Already  had 
Cornwallis  collected  around  him  every  scouting  party 
he  had  out,  while  he  had  attached  to  his  standard 
as  many  of  that  miserable  class  of  disaffected  crea- 
tures, the  Tories,  as  could  be  collected,  for  the  double 
purpose  of  striking  dismay  through  the  ranks  of  the 
mere  handful  of  Americans  who  were  to  oppose 
them,  as  well  as  for  the  cruelty  and  butchery  with 
which  he  knew  the  then  cowards  of  the  South  were 
so  conversant. 

The  gallant  Green  and  his  faithful  followers  beheld 
with  regret  the  dilemma  in  which  they  were  placed, 
yet  trusting  in  the  omnipotence  of  that  Being  who 
had  so  eminently  shielded  and  protected  them  and 
their  fellow  countrymen  in  arms,  they  calmly  awaited 
the  attack.  As  if  to  afford  the  majestic  luminary  of 
day  additional  lustre,  as  he  rose  that  morning  to 
witness  a  retreating  and  struggling  army  now  drawn 
up  in  battle  array  against  a  victorious  foe;  not  a 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  17 

cloud  was  seen  upon  the  horizon,  and,,  all  was  calm 
and  still.  That  field  yet  unstained  by  the  blood  of 
Freedom's  son  was  occupied  by  the  army  under  three 
divisions.  At  two  o'clock  the  British  advance  came 
into  view,  the  signal  was  given,  and  in  the  next 
moment  two  pieces  of  artillery  under  command  of 
Singleton  opened  upon  the  approaching  mass.  Soon 
the  rage  of  battle  was  heard  and  felt  throughout  the 
lines  of  both  armies ;  and  the  vollies  of  srnoke  emana- 
ting from  the  destructive  fire  of  their  cannon  and 
musketry  announced  a  determined  intent  to  conquer 
or  to  die.  The  English  troops  kept  the  field,  but 
their  commander  had  no  idea  that  his  and  their 
career  in  America  was  so  near  at  an  end,  and  that 
that  victory  should  be  the  last  he  should  boast  of 
having  won  over  those  who  had  long  since  tasted  the 
sweets  of  liberty,  and  whose  blood  was  then  being 
spilled  freely  to  maintain  it.  The  toll  of  his  tocsin 
was  begun.  The  mighty  I  Am  had  issued  the  decree  ! 
and  he  who  had  fought  against'  freemen  was  shortly 
to  yield  up  his  sword  to  the  immortal  Washington. 
The  contest  was  as  obstinate  as  it  was  bloody,  and 
shortly  before  retreat  was  sounded,  Colonel  Leftridge, 
at  the  head  of  his  troops,  was  attacked,  his  horse 
shot,  himself  wounded,  and  left  to  the  mercy  of  a 
party  of  renegade  and  Tory  troops.  At  that  moment 
the  shrill  bugle-sound  of  retreat  was  heard,  and  the 
Americans  withdrew  from  the  scene  of  action.  They 
had  encamped  at  a  small  distance  from  it,  while 
Cornwallis  had  established  his  head-quarters  upon  a 
plentifully  supplied  farm,  with  a  commodious  dwel- 
ling some  few  miles  distant,  the  property  of  a  gentle- 

2 


18  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

man  whose  self  and  sons  were  then  in  arms  against 
the  invaders  of  their  country. 

Things  did  not  remain  long  in  their  then  condition 
before  a  further  distance  from  the  enemy  was  found 
to  be  necessary,  consequent  upon  his  weakened 
condition,  and  Green  resolved  to  cross  the  Dan  river, 
with  a  view  more  effectually  to  watch  the  movements 
of  his  adversary. 

Leftridge  was  missing  :  his  loss  was  deeply  felt  by 
his  general.  The  uncertainty  with  regard  to  his  fate, 
and  the  absence  of  his  generosity  and  kind  attention 
to  his  men,  had  begun  already  to  create  a  sombre 
aspect  over  the  countenances  of  all.  "  If  alive,  what 
can  be  done  to  effect  his  rescue  ?"  was  the  inquiry 
throughout  the  camp.  A  towering  spirit  soon  deter- 
mined it.  One  who  had  been  accustomed  to  look 
calmly  upon  danger,  whose  lucid  imagination  encom- 
passed the  boundary  of  his  plan  in  a  minute,  and 
decided  upon  his  course  in  a  second,  was  in  camp.  • 

Laurence,  in  person,  had  determined  to  rescue  and 
save  his  friend.  The  plan  was  formed,  and  inter- 
mixed as  it  was  with  danger,  he  had  determined  to 
go  that  night  into  the  enemy's  camp  as  a  Tory,  to 
ascertain,  if  living,  where  Leftridge  was,  what  his 
condition,  the  chance  of  having  an  interview  with, 
him,  and  if  possible  to  effect  the  escape  of  both  with- 
out being  discovered.  For  that  purpose,  and  just 
before  tattoo,  he  repaired  to  the  tent  of  his  General, 
who  had  at  that  moment  just  finished  his  dispatches 
to  the  Commander-in-chief,  informing  him  of  his 
defeat,  and  that  of,  as  he  feared,  the  death  of 
Leftridge. 

"  General,"  said  he,  "I  have  come  to  ask  your  per- 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY.  19 

mission  to  descend  to  the  appearance  and  actions, 
though  not  feelings,  of  a  tory  and  traitor  to  my 
country. 

"Colonel  Leftridge,"  continued  he,  "is  a  prisoner, 
and  my  object  is,  to  rescue  him  or  perish  in  the  at- 
tempt. I  wish  leave  of  absence  from  the  camp,  and 
am  under  the  impression  that  ere  reveille  is  beaten,  at 
daylight  to-morrow,  I  shall  return  with  him  in  safety 
to  his  men  and  to  the  army." 

A  moment's  pause  ensued,  when  the  General  replied, 

"  Have  you  not  been  too  precipitate  in  the  manage- 
ment of  your  designs,  and  are  you  not  rash  in  under- 
taking their  execution  to-night?" 

"That  maybe,  sir,"  replied  Laurence,  "but  with 
due  deference  to  your  permission  my  purpose  is  un- 
changeable ;  and  every  moment's  delay  in  the  com- 
mencement of  it,  induces  the  impression  upon  my 
mind  that  if  I  do  not  make  the  attempt  to  save  him 
my  neglect  to  do  so  will  be  an  accessary  to  his 
death." 

"Your  intention  is  generous,  your  purpose  a  noble 
one,  and  your  plan  I  fear  is  too  perilous  for  success. 
Beside,"  continued  the  General,  "  your  services  are  too 
much  needed  in  the  present  critical  condition  of  our  na- 
tional affairs  for  your  country  to  risk  the  loss,  of  not 
only  one,  but  two  of  her  officers,  who  have  so  gallantly 
signalized  themselves  in  her  cause.  I  must,  therefore, 
so  far  as  your  application  for  leave  of  absence  is  con- 
cerned, refuse." 

"Hold!"  quickly  replied  Laurence,  as  his  penetra- 
ting eye  conveyed  an  imploring  look  upon  the  general. 
"  The  pride  of  being  a  soldier  in  the  defence  of  my 
country  is,  figuratively  speaking,  my  meat  and  drink, 


20  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

nurtured,  strengthened  and  kept  vigorous  by  that  por- 
tion of  the  vegetable  and  animal  kingdom,  with  water, 
necessary  to  life.  Separate  and  apart  from  the  love 
I  entertain  for  my  country's  cause,  is  one  which  exists 
equally  strong  within  me,  and  that  is,  to  aid  my  fellow 
men,  and  more  especially  a  friend,  whenever  it  may  be 
in  my  power ;  and  the  greater  the  peril,  the  more  pride 
I  feel  in  rendering  the  service." 

"  Your  argument  is  a  cogent  one,"  replied  the  gene- 
ral, "and  worthy  of  a  brave  man.  You  have  my 
consent,  and  in  addition  to  it,  any  one  or  more  of  the 
men  of  your  regiment,  if  you  require  them  to  accom- 
pany you  in  the  perfecting  of  your  intended  pur- 
pose." 

In  a  few  moments  Laurence  was  in  his  own  tent 
preparatory  to  departure. 

"  Orderly !" 

"Sir,"  said  a  fine-looking  fellow,  who  had  risen 
from  his  seat  and  saluted  Laurence  as  he  entered  his 
quarters. 

"  Do  you  know  Sergeant  Hyne  of  Company  (C?'  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Is  he  on  duty  ?" 

"  I  do  not  know,  sir,  but  can  shortly  ascertain  if 
the  major  chooses." 

"  Do  so ;  and  if  he  is  not,  say  to  him  that  I  wish  to 
see  him. ' 

In  a  short  time  the  orderly,  accompanied  by  Hyne, 
was  in  the  presence  of  Laurence,  who  they  found 
busily  engaged  taking  off  his  uniform  and  putting  on 
the  attire  of  a  South  Carolinian  farmer,  from  whom  he 
had  that  day  purchased  it. 

"  Can  you  keep  a  secret,  Hyne  ?"  said  Laurence. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY  21 

"A  soldier,  sir,  ought  to  do  so;  more  especially 
when  it  is  given  to  him  as  such  by  his  commander." 

"  Then  I  presume  you  can?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  wish  to  rescue  Colonel  Leftridge  to-night,"  con- 
tinued Laurence,  "  and  have  sent  for  you  to  accompany 
me  and  aid  in  doing  so." 

"The  major  has  honored  me,"  said  the  sergeant, 
"  and  if  he  will  allow  me  a  few  'moments,  I  shall  re- 
port myself  ready  for  duty." 

In  a  little  time  he  was  by  the  side  of  Laurence,  and 
disguised  in  a  pair  of  cotton  trousers,  a  striped  jacket, 
made  of  like  material,  and  a  long-waisted,  close-bodie  1 
dress  coat  of  the  same,  somewhat  threadbare  and  torn 
at  the  elbows,  a  pair  of  half- worn  shoes  upon  his  feet, 
and  an  old  broad-rimmed  wool  hat  upon  his  head. 

"You  are  indeed  in  disguise,  sergeant)"  said  the 
major,  as  Heyne  re-entered  the  tent. 

"I  ought  to  be  so,  sir,  in  honor  of  my  superior," 
replied  the  sergeant,  as  he  gave  the  salute  saying  "I 
am  now  ready  to  obey  the  orders  of  the  major." 


CHAPTER    IV. 

The  requisites  to  face  danger  are  self-possession,  calmness,  and  nerve. 

THE  light  emanating  from  the  starry-decked  hea- 
vens was  the  only  one  to  guide  Laurence  and  his  ser- 
geant in  their  dangerous  and  pathless  way  toward  the 
encampment  of  the  enemy,  who,  in  addition  to  the 
watchful  attention  of  their  sentinels,  had  at  their 


22  THE  HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

command,  and  at  their  service,  many  a  disaffected 
wretch  ever  ready  to  give  notice  of  the  least  alarm. 

After  crossing  the  river,  as  spoken  of,  in  a  small 
pine-log  canoe,  and  having  turned  their  little  craft 
upside  down,  throwing  particles  of  drift  upon  it,  in 
order  to  prevent  its  discovery,  and  its  being  taken  by 
friend  or  foe,  a  short  delay  was  occasioned  in  deciding 
upon  what  route  to  take.  That  route  lay  in  the 
direction  of  the  battle-field,  and  over  which  they  were 
compelled  to  pass. 

The  feelings  of  Laurence  and  Hyne  were  far  dif- 
ferent now  to  what  they  were  on  the  preceding  day ; 
then  cheered  by  the  hope  of  victory,  and  led  on  to 
combat  under  the  exhilarating  effects  of  martial  music 
— melancholy  was  not  theirs.  The  spot  upon  which 
war  the  day  before  had  spread  its  havoc  and  carnage, 
its  delineations  of  the  dead  and  dying,  was  now  being 
passed  over  by  them  in  solemn  silence. 

Upon  arriving  near  that  point  at  which  the  most 
fierce  part  of  the  action  had  been  sustained,  heaps  of 
slain  presented,  in  every  direction,  the  obstinacy  with 
which  their  brave  countrymen  had  contended  against 
those  who  were  then  their  dying  as  well  as  dead  com- 
panions upon  that  blood-stained  field.  Among  other 
incidents  which  the  unburied  condition  of  the  slain, 
or  in  other  words,  neglect  of  the  conquering  foe  had 
presented  to  the  imaginations  of  our  major  and  his 
sergeant,  was  one  at  that  moment  transpiring  before 
them, — giving  surprise  as  well  as  wonder  to  the  cause 
and  meaning  of  it.  Just  as  they  had  crossed  a  small 
stream  of  wo,ter,  and  were  about  ascending  to  the 
summit  of  a  bluff  bounded  by  it,  they  discovered  in  the 
distance  a  torchlight,  the  moving  appearance  of  which 


THE   HEIRESSES    OF    FOTIIERIXGAY.  23 

seemed  to  bend  its  course  towards  the  spot  then  occu- 
pied by  them.  Covered  from  view  by  the  bluffy 
bank  under  which  they  had  already  seated  themselves, 
the  movements  of  the  light  were  strictly  watched. 

Its  near  approach  enabled  our  two  friends  to  dis- 
cover it  to  be  borne  by  a  tall  and  well-formed  person, 
in  British  uniform,  and  without  arms,  save  a  short  sword 
which  hung  gracefully  at  his  side.  In  rear  of  him 
were  four  other  men,  one  of  whom  was  by  the  side  of 
a  female,  who  had  hold  of  his  arm,  and  who,  from 
appearance,  seemed  to  be  laboring  under  great  mental 
distress.  A  momentary  pause  ensued. 

"  It  was  near  this  spot,"  said  the  man  bearing  the 
torch-light,  "  that  I  saw  him  fall,  covered  with  wounds 
and  weltering  in  his  own  blood.  Being  pursued  as 
was  our  company  by  that  invincible  body — Washing- 
ton's cavalry,  I  had  barely  time  to  bid  him  farewell, 
and  to  give  my  promise  that  I  would  return  here  to- 
night with  you,  Mary,  in  search  of  him,  dead  or  alive." 
In  a  few  moments  after  that  remark  was  made,  and  at 
a  still  nearer  distance  from  our  party,  the  man  bearing 
the  light,  halted,  saying : 

"Here  he  is,  and  thanks  to  the  Disposer  of  all 
human  events  is  still  alive  !" 

After  some  time  spent  in  the  emotions  of  grief  and 
sorrow  incident  to  woman's  heart,  a  kind  of  litter  was 
prepared  upon  which  the  wounded  man  was  laid,  and 
in  a  short  time  the  party  began  to  retrace  their  steps 
Jrom  whence  they  had  come,  leaving  Laurence  and 
Hyne  in  possession  of  a  renewed  topic  of  thought 
under  the  influence  of  which  to  prosecute  their  plans. 

It  was  long  before  they  could  gain  a  position  near 
enough  to  the  out-posts  of  the  British  army,  to  enable 


24  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

them  to  reconnoitre  with  even  tolerable  safety.  At 
length  the  brow  of  a  small  hill,  within  a  few  hundred 
yards  distance  from  the  enemy's  camp  fires,  presented 
itself  to  their  view. 

"  Here,"  said  Laurence,  in  a  low  tone  of  voice,  "  is 
the  place  at  which  we  will  establish  our  quarters,  and 
at  which  we  will  report  to  one  another  our  respective 
discoveries,  whether  favorable  or  unfavorable  to  our 
object  in  view." 

Taking  an  opposite  course,  they  were  soon  separated, 
and  each  one,  on  his  lonely  tour,  was  involved  in  atten- 
tive observation.  Laurence  had  proceeded  in  a  direc- 
tion which,  from  the  lights  yet  burning,  he  supposed 
to  be  the  quarters  of  the  commander-in-chief.  All  was 
silent.  He  looked  to  discover,  then  listened  to  hear ; 
if  to  see  or  hear  any  one ;  the  footsteps  probably  of 
the  sentinel,  as  perchance  he  might  by  the  crush  of  a 
leaf  and  other  particles  in  his  path,  create  such  a  noise 
as  to  enable  him  to  know  that  he  was  near  the  pre- 
scribed route  of  one.  Involved  in  deep  thought,  and 
intently  listening  to  what  occasionally  saluted  it,  his 
keen  ear  caught  the  sound,  of  a  low,  yet  sufficiently 
audible,  murmuring  expression,  as  follows :  "  I  should 
account  it  the  chief  pleasure  of  my  life,  were  I  in  a 
situation  to  restore  to  his  friends,  and  to  his  brethren 
in  arms,  the  brave,  generous,  and  noble-hearted  Colonel 
Leftridge.  That  cowardly  and  unprincipled  class  of 
beings — the  Tories  —  so  numerously  infesting  this 
State,  have  at  their  own  request,  and  I  am  sorry  to 
add,  permission  of  the  commanding  officer,  his  life 
in  their  hands.  I  detest  such  principles,  and  must 
condemn  my  countrymen,  though  my  superiors,  for 
such  a  mode  of  warfare." 


THE   HEIRESSES   017   FOTHERINGAY.  25 

Laurence  was  struck  with  admiration  at  a  soliloquy 
so  unexpected,  and  so  much  in  favor  of  his  designs. 
In  an  instant  his  every  thought  was  at  work  to  know 
how  best  to  take  advantage  of  what  he  had  just  heard. 
The  first  impetus  of  his  anxious  soul  was  to  rush  for- 
ward, regardless  of  position  or  circumstances,  to  the 
spot  from  whence  the  address  emanated,  and  there  to 
express  a  change  of  sentiment  so  entirely  congenial 
with  those  he  had  just  listened  to;  a  moment's  reflec- 
tion, however,  produced  a  better  course.  "No,"  safd 
he,  in  almost  a  state  of  soliloquy  himself,  "to  go  for- 
ward will  not  do  for  the  present.  I  shall  seek  Hyne — • 
confer  with  him,  and  then  return  to  this  spot." 

As  he  turned  to  retrace  his  steps  to  their  place  of 
rendezvous,  the  report  of  a  gun  attracted  his  attention, 
and  as  it  was  in  this  direction  his  fears  were  that  Hyne 
had  been  discovered  and  shot.  With  cautious  steps 
he  bent  his  way  to  the  place  of  their  retreat,  and  when 
within  a  few  yards  of  it,  discovered  his  faithful  ser- 
geant standing  under  a  part  of  a  large  rock,  projecting 
from  the  hill.  When  he  had  gained  their  retreat,  he 
asked  Ilyne  in  a  whisper,  "what  discoveries  he  had 
made?" 

"  I  have  found,"  said  he,  "three  places  where  there 
seems  to  be  no  guard,  and  have  been  back  about  ten 
minutes  awaiting  your  arrival  and  orders,  sir,  I  also 
heard  the  report  of  a  gun,  but  cannot  imagine  the 
cause  as  all  seems  silettit  on  the  route  I  have  been." 

"  That  report  I  also  heard,  and  became  fearful  lest 
the  Tory  faction  or  some  other  inimical  to  the  cause 
of  our  nightly  visit  to  this  region,  had  sacrificed  you 
to  their  assassin  and  cowardly-like  principles.  But  let 
us  be  of  good  cheer,  and  endeavor  not  to  purchase 


26  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

trouble  at  retail  in  the  anticipation  of  it,  as  is  the  na- 
ture of  many ;  and  when  it  comes  in  mass,  which  is 
soon  enough,  stand  calm  and  firm  under  whatever 
misfortune  it  may  entail  upon  us.  I  have  better 
news,"  continued  the  major,  "  than  that  of  which  you 
have  just  spoken,  yet  dangerous  and  uncertain  as  ever, 
and  have  returned  to  consult  and  advise  with  you 
upon  it."  Here  Laurence  related  what  he  had  heard. 
The  two  friends  mutually  concurred  in  opinion,  and 
in  a  few  moments  left  their  tentless  camp  for  the  spot 
which  had  a  little  before  been  occupied  by  Laurence. 

In  almost  breathless  silence  and  acute  attention, 
they  cautiously  retraced  the  route,  till  they  had  arrived 
in  sight  of  the  light,  still  burning,  which  had  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  Major,  and  turning  a  little  to  one 
side,  took  a  position  in  a  hollow  gum  tree,  the  unde- 
cayed  part  of  which  faced  in  the  direction  of  the 
enemy's  lines. 

All  nature  seemed  to  be  wrapped  in  profound 
silence,  not  a  sound  of  feathered,  nor  of  quadruped 
animated  nature  was  heard,  except  the  shrill  voice 
of  the  cock  in  different  sections  of  the  adjacent 
neighborhood  announcing  the  arrival  of  the  mid- 
night hour. 

"  I  fear  the  success  of  our  plan,"  said  Laurence  in  a 
low  whisper,  "as  it  is  now  past  twelve  o'clock."  He 
had  scarcely  made  the  remark  when  the  footsteps  of 
several  persons  were  heard  within  a  short  distance  of 
them,  and  apparently  approaching  the  place  of  their 
concealment. 

What  to  do  they  had  no  time  to  determine  upon, 
and  under  the  influence  of  sudden  alarm,  and  utter 
despair  seemingly  awaiting  them,  thought  their  de- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  27 

signs  frustrated,  their  anxious  hopes  cast  to  the  four 
winds  of  heaven,  and  themselves  in  the  hands  of  a 
merciless  foe.  Fortunately  the  approach  was  in  the 
rear  of  their  place  of  concealment ;  the  persons  were 
those  of  the  relief  guard  of  the  British  army  going 
the  "grand  rounds."  The  command  and  word,  halt! 
succeeded  by  the  formal  interchange  of  the  counter- 
sign was  given.  In  a  few  moments  they  passed  on, 
and  all  again  was  silent. 

"  How  much  circumstances  operate  against  us  now," 
whispered  Laurence.  "I  had  thought  on  hearing  it 
that  the  soliloquy  emanated  from  some  one  kindly 
disposed  toward  Colonel  Leftridge,  and  that  we  might 
venture  to  approach  the  person,  whoever  he  might 
be,  upon  our  return  here.  My  impressions  also  were, 
that  he  whose  voice  I  had  heard  might  have  been  a 
sentinel ;  if  so,  the  relief  guard  has  supplied  his  place 
with  that  of  another,  and  he  doubtless,  is  now  far  be- 
yond the  most  remote  probability  of  ever  being  near 
the  one  or  the  other,  or  both  of  us  again.  The  All- 
wise,  however,  is  a  merciful,  as.  he  is  a  mysterious 
being,  in  Him,  therefore,  I  put  my  trust.  To  return 
to  camp  without  the  Colonel,  will  be  a  source  of  too 
much  pain  to  his  men,  a  great  loss  to  the  army  and  a 
constantly  mortifying  reflection  to  me." 

"  And  to  me,  too,"  replied  Hyne. 

"  Let  us,"  continued  the  Major,  "  go  to  the  camp  of 
the  enemy  at  reveille ;  report  ourselves  as  Tories ;  pre- 
tend to  have  much  to  communicate;  gain  their  confi- 
dence and  the  privilege  of  their  camp ;  learn  all  we 
can  relative  to  the  colonel;  ascertain  what  is  his  con- 
dition; how,  if  at  all,  confined;  if  guarded,  by  whom, 
and  then  conclude  upon  such  a  plan  as  a  combination 


28  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

of  all  or  part  of  sucli  circumstances,  may  again  dictate 
for  his  rescue." 

The  morning  star  had  risen,  adding  its  brilliant 
light  to  the  sparkling  galaxy  of  bodies  which  had 
borne  mute  evidence  of  the  untiring,  as  well  as  un- 
daunted exertions  of  our  forlorn  hope  ! 

"Let  us  now  depart,"  said  Laurence,  "  and  go  to  the 
main  road  leading  from  Guilfo«rd,  along  it  we  will 
bend  our  course  toward  the  head-quarters  of  tho 
British  commander,  and  be  better  able  to  pass  undis- 
turbed and  as  supposed  Tories.  Thus  sauntering,  we 
will  allow  ourselves  just  time  enough  to  gain  their 
camp  at  sunrise  so  as  to  commence  our  experiments 
in  intrigue  at  as  early  an  hour  as  possible. 

They  were  on  the  point  of  leaving  their  last  rendez- 
vous— the  hollow  gum-tree — when  the  sound  of  a 
human  voice  attracted  their  attention. 

"Thank  heaven!"  exclaimed  Laurence,  in  an  em- 
phatic whisper,  "  it  was  the  voice  of  the  soliloquist  we 
heard."  All  was  again  silent,  and  our  two  friends 
were  as  by  magic,  and  as  fixtures,  standing  in  mute 
anxiety,  one  on  each  side  of  the  entrance  and  natural 
door  of  their  wooden  tent. 

They  had  not  been  long  in  that  posture  before  their 
ears  were  saluted  and  their  fancies  of  hope  were  fed 
upon  the  following  exclamations : 

"  I  detest  cowardice  as  a  quality  unnatural  to  man. 
The  Author  of  his  existence  has  not  placed  at  his 
command  direct  power  over  all  the  animal  kingdom, 
and  thus  making  him  lord  of  the  earth,  without  having 
bestowed  upon  him  a  superior  intellect,  the  exercise 
of  which  is  to  show  his  greatness  in  obeying  the  will 
of  his  Maker,  and  in  doing  all  the  good  he  can.  Upon 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  29 

the  principles  for  which  I  was  created  I  have,  then,  a 
right  to  act,  not  to  degrade  but  to  elevate  myself.  I 
am,  from  circumstances  equally  unforeseen  as  beyond 
my  control,  a  soldier,  and  to  be  a  brave  one  is  im- 
peratively my  duty.  To  desert  the  colors  of  my 
country  is  against  my  creed,  and  to  betray  her  trust 
dishonorable;  but  to  befriend  a  fellow  being  in  dis- 
tress is,  I  know,  not  only  in  accordance  with  the 
dictates  of  a  conscience  void  of  offence  against  God 
and  man,  but  which  affords  a  fund  of  pleasing  reflec- 
tion in  the  downhill  of  life.  To  befriend  a  brother 
soldier,  though  he  be  my  enemy  and  in  arms  against 
me  is — magnanimity  of  soul — as  well  as  that  of  duty. 
And  to  do  so  without  a  departure  from  honor  is  what 
will  afford  me  as  much  pleasure  as  it  will  him  relief. 
This  I  have  resolved  to  do,  if  the  unfeeling  wretches 
who  hold  him  subject  to  their  own  disposal  do  not 
hang  him  as  they  would  a  dog  ere  I_can  effect  my 
purpose.  How  strange  and  unfathomed  are  the  mys- 
teries of  that  Great  Power,  which  rules  and  governs, 
not  only  the  destiny  of  nations,  but  that  of  individuals 
also.  Before  I  left  England  it  was  told  to  me  by  one 
of  those  who  pretend  to  have  a  foreknowledge  of  fu- 
turity, that  I  should  go  to  a  distant  country,  in  com- 
pany with  a  large  number  of  my  own  people,  to  fight; 
that  we-  should  be  conquered  and  that  our  commander 
a'id  his  army  should  be  taken  prisoners.  But  before 
•"  that  event  I  would  help  a  man  of  high  rank,  who 
would  become  one  of  our  prisoners,  to  make  his  escape 
and  arrive  in  safety  among  his  people.  So  far  as  it 
relates  to  my  being  in  the  army,  and  where  I  had 
never  expected  to  be,  the  prediction  is  fulfilled ;  and 
it  appears  that  the  time  is  at  hand  when  I  shall  be 


30  TUB   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

instrumental  in  the  rescue  of  a  man  of  doubtless  merited 
worth  amongst  his  people;  whether  the  other  predic- 
tion, the  close  of  this  war,  will  follow  soon  or  late  after, 
I  may  perhaps  not  live  to  see." 

During  the  declaration  of  that,  as  yet,  unknown 
being,  our  two  friends  listened  with  all  the  attention 
with  which  they  were  possessed.  At  its  close,  and  in 
a  low  whisper,  a  consultation  was  held  between  them, 
resulting  in  a  determination  boldly  to  present  them- 
selves before  him,  whoever  he  might  be,  whose  solilo- 
quy had  induced  them  to  believe  him  friendly  at  least 
toward  the  unfortunate  and  distressed. 

About  ten  steps  from  their  concealment  was  the 
boundary  of  the  sentinel's  march,  and  just  as  he  had 
come  to  the  point  at  which  he  intended  to  wheel  and 
retrace  his  steps,  Laurence  and  Hyne  stepped  from 
the  interior  of  their  hiding-place  and  were  in  full  view 
before  him. 

"  Who  comes  there?"  said  the  sentinel. 

"  Friends  to  the  guard,"  replied  Laurence. 

"Advance  friends  and  give  the  countersign." 

"That  we  have  not  got." 

'  "Stand!"  replied  the  sentinel,  as  he  threw  himself 
in  a  position  of  defence,  and  bringing  his  musket  to  a 
level,  "Who  are  you?"  he  continued. 

"  Americans,"  replied  Laurence. 

"Of  the  army?" 

"Yes." 

"  What,  and  with  whom  is  your  business?" 

"  Our  business  is  to  speak  with  the  sentinel  on  duty, 
and  who  now  speaks  to  us;  our  object,  to  ask  for  and 
engage  his  generosity  in  an  act  of  kindness  in  behalf 
of  an  unfortunate  fellow  soldier,  though  an  enemy." 


THE   HEIRESSES    OF   POTHERING  AY.  31 

"  What  if  I  refuse  you  an  audience  ?"  said  the 
sentinel. 

"Then  we  are  undone,"  replied  Laurence. 

"How  so?" 

"In  being  your  prisoners  and  anticipated  sufferers 
in  common  with  our  countryman  and  fellow  soldier, 
Colonel  Leftridge." 

"What  is  it  you  wish  of  me?"  continued  the 
sentinel. 

"  Have  we  your  word  that  you  will  not  betray  us, 
should  you  deny  what  we  ask  at  your  hands,"  replied 
the  major. 

"Do  you  believe  that  soldiers  have  honor?" 

"Yes,"  returned  Laurence. 

"Then,  as  a  soldier,  I  pledge  you  my  solemn 
word." 

"  We  thank  you  till  a  better  reward  is  yours,"  re- 
plied Laurence. 

"What  are  your  names,  and  what  rank  do  you 
bear?"  inquired  the  sentinel. 

"Major  Laurence,  second  regiment  of  infantry,  and 
Sergeant  Hyne  of  company  '  C.' " 

"Advance  and  fear  no  danger,"  said  the  sentinel. 

When  they  had  come  up  to  where  the  sentinel  was, 
and  had  informed  him  of  their  design  and  entire 
wishes,  he  replied, 

"  So  far,  major,  as  that  of  your  return  to  the  Ame- 
rican camp  to-night  is  concerned,  there  is  an  impossi- 
bility; for  it  is  now  not  more  than  two  hours  till 
daylight,  and  your  detection  would  be  inevitable. 
With  regard  to  the  condition  of  Colonel  Leftridge,  it 
is  bad  enough;  and  so  much  so,  as  when  I  think  upon 
his  treatment  by  my  countrymen,  the  thought  is  pro- 


32  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY. 

duced  that  generosity  is  no  longer  a  part  and  parcel 
of  the  ingredients  of  which  Englishmen  are  composed. 
His  wound,  though  a  slight  one,  has  never  been 
dressed,  with  the  exception  of  what  little  he  has  done 
to  it  himself  since  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  that  was 
during  the  time  he  was  before  the  officer  of  the  day, 
a  few  hours  after  the  engagement,  and  when  he  was 
transferred  to  the  demon-like  beings  in  whose  hands 
he  fell  on  the  day  of  battle.  He  has  been  doomed  by 
them  to  suffer  death,  and  to  die  on  a  gibbet  day  after 
to-morrow  at  sunrise. 

'.'  The  Tories  have  already  .erected  his  gallows,  -and 
by  way  of  insult,  add  additional  pangs  to  the  suffer- 
ings of  his  gallant  and  high-toned  spirit ;  their  order 
is,  to  compel  him  in  view  of  the  wretched  dregs  of 
human  nature,  composing  a  company  of  Tories,  to 
visit  it  three  times  a  day.  The  order  has  been  issued 
for  the  striking  of  our  tents  day  after  to-morrow  also, 
when  our  army  will  march,  as  is  the  general  opinion 
for  York-town,  in  Yivginia.  The  execution  of  the 
Colonel  is  designed  lor  that  day,  in  honor,  as  they 
express  it,  of  the  triumph  of  Lord  Cornwallis  over 
Green  and  his  rebel  army.  The  Colonel  lies  in  an 
out-house,  he  is  not  guarded,  but  confined  by  a  plen- 
tiful supply  of  strong  rope;  and  I  think  as  you  are  in 
your  disguise  as  Tories,  you  may  with  much  caution 
see  him ;  set  him  at  liberty,  and  bear  him  off  without 
being  known.  For  my  own  part,  I  shall  render  you 
every  assistance  that  may  be  within  my  power,  and 
that  which  I  shall  commence  with,  and  which  you  are 
now  most  in  need  of,  is  to  direct  you  where  you  can 
remain  in  security  during  the  ensuing  day,  and  with 
it  to  have  refreshment  and  rest.'' 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  33 

In  a  few  minutes,  and  at  a  short  distance  from  the 
place  where  their  interview  with  the  sentinel  was  held, 
they  found  themselves  at  the  door  of  a  small  log  hut, 
which  by  a  gentle  tap  from  their  guide  was  soon 
opened.  "  Here,"  said  he,  "  you  can  rest  in  safety  and 
have  something  to  eat  during  the  day." 

The  sentinel  was  about  to  leave  his  guests  to  resume 
his  station,  when  Laurence  detaining  him  for  a  mo- 
ment, said,  "Soldier!  to  your  kindness  and  generosity 
we  are  indebted,  for  not  only  our  present  security, 
with  the  additions  of  anticipated  sleep  and  refresh- 
ment, but  also  for  a  strong  hope  in  the  accomplish- 
ment of  our,  now  most  dear  object,  the  rescue  from  an 
ignominious  death,  the  brave  and  generous-hearted 
Leftridge.  You  are  about  leaving  us  to  return  to  the 
encampment,  in  which  he  lies  bound  as  a  prisoner ;  it 
becomes  necessary,  in  your  further  purpose  to  serve 
us,  that  you  should  be  put  in  possession  of  some  sig- 
nal, in  the  use  of  which  before  him,  you  will  at  once 
apprize  the  Colonel  of  your  being  his  friend,  and  that 
they  from  whom  you  had  obtained  the  sign,  have 
properly  endowed  you  with  it :  by  this  means  he  will 
ba  forewarned  of  our  approach,  and  of  the  necessity 
there  is  of  keeping  down  any  excitement  which  our 
abrupt  entry  into  his  presence  might  occasion.  For 
that  purpose  allow  me  to  confer  upon  you  a  sign  which 
when  given  to  the  Colonel,  he  will  perfectly  under- 
stand. It  is  this," — placing  his  fore-finger  perpen- 
dicularly across  his  mouth,  "  and  one  too,  which  has 
existed  between  us  since  the  days  of  our  earliest  boy- 
hood. One  more  detention,"  continued  Laurence, 
"  and  I  shall  have>done  for  the  present.  Your  name 
and  the  regiment  to  which  you  belong?" 

3 


84  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"  James  Withrow,  eighth  regiment,  and  company 
'K,'  of  his  Britannic  Majesty's  Troop  of  Light  In- 
fantry." So  saying,  the  sentinel  bowed  gracefully  and 
was  soon  out  of  their  sight. 


fcHAPTEK  Y. 

The  noblest  feature  of  the  mind  is  that  of  disinterested  friendship. 

THE  first  attention  shown  to  Laurence  and  Hyne 
by  the  inmates  of  the  log  hut,  was  manifested  by 
being  seated  at  a  small  table,  when  they  partook  of 
excellently  made  coffee,  several  well-fried  slices  of 
ham,  and  some  well-baked  biscuit,  "  for  all  of  which," 
as  was  said  by  the  inmates  of  the  hut,  "  they  were  in- 
debted to  Withrow,  who,  instead, of  continuing  with 
his  mess,  received  his  rations  and  boarded  with  them. 

In  a  short  time  after  they  had  partaken  of  their 
breakfast,  they  were  conducted  into  a  small  shed- 
roofed  apartment,  where  stood  from  appearance,  a  clean 
and  comfortable  bed.  The  fatigue  of  the  past  night 
had  exhausted  their  fund  of  stimulant  excitement,  and 
in  a  few  moments  the  Major  and  Hyne,  both  in  one 
bed,  were  in  a  sound  sleep.  It  was  near  two  o'clock, 
when  they  awoke,  and  shortly  after  were  called  to 
partake  of  a  well-served  up  dinner.  The  remainder 
of  the  day  passed  in  anxious  expectation  upon  the 
anticipated  events  of  the  ensuing  night. 

"What,"  said  Laurence  to  Hyne,  "must  be  the 
thoughts  of  the  general  to-day  !  se3ing  that  we  have  not 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHEKINGAY.  35 

returned  to  camp  by  reveille,  as  were  my  expectations 
when  we  left." 

"And  what,"  replied  Hyne,  "must  be  the  opinions 
of  the  regiment,  as  well  as  the  whole  army,  all  of 
which  are  by  this  time,  doubtless,  impressed  with  a 
belief  that  not  only  the  colonel,  but  we  also  are  lost." 

"  True,"  replied  Laurence,  "  but  the  agreeable  sur- 
prise, though  longer  accomplishing  than  I  thought  it 
would  be  when  we  left  camp,  which  we  will  give 
them,  will  more  than  compensate  all,  for  the  uneasi- 
ness our  prolonged  absence,  as  yet  unaccounted  for  to 
them,  may  have  occasioned  the  regiment  and  the  army. 
Night  was  approaching.  The  sun  had  withdrawn  his 
brilliant  rays,  and  the  pale  yellow  mantle  of  twilight 
along  the  horizon,  had  begun  a  compromise  between 
itself  and  the  pervading  influence  of  darkness,  when 
their  near,  and  now  highly  valued  friend,  Withrow, 
stepped  into  the  door  of  the  hut. 

"  What  news  do  you  bring  us,"  eagerly  inquired  the 
major  and  his  sergeant  at  the  same  instant,  as  they 
fixed  their  eyes  intently  upon  him,  anxiously  waiting 
his  reply.  . 

"  I  have  come,"  said  Withrow,  with  a  countenance 
indicating  a  thoughtful  mood,  "  to  spend  a  few  mo- 
ments only  with  you,  for  the  present,  and  to 'inform 
you  that  all  in  relation  to  our  plan  is — ' 

"What!  lost?"  exclaimed  the  two  Americans,  as 
they  sat  in  mute  and  anxious  attention,  listening  to 
the  recital  of  the  gentlemanly  English  soldier. 

"No,"  he  replied,  his  countenance  brightening  as  he 
spoke,  "but  as  it  should  be,  and  that  is  a  proper  train 
for  the  rescue  of  the  colonel,  and,  I  hope,  safe  return 
of  himself  and  friends  to  his  general  and  countrymen  in 


36  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

arms.  I  took  occasion  to-day,"  continued  Withrow,  "  to 
go  with  a  piece  of  meat  and  bread  in  one  hand,  and  a 
canteen  of  water  in  the  other,  to  the  consequential  cap- 
tain of  the  Tories,  requesting  permission  to  give  what  I 
then  had  in  my  hands  to  the  colonel.  '  He  will  soon  be 
done  with  his  now  but  empty  title,'  said  the  wretch,  as 
he  pompously,  and  in  a  would-be-great  manner  twirled 
his  sword,  walking  from  me  with  the  remark,  'you 
have  my  permission  to  do  so,  if  it  is  any  gratification 
to  you,  to  feed  one  who  has  now  but  a  few  hours 
longer  to  live.'  Having  but  little  inclination  to  be 
long  in  the  presence  of  one  so  far  beneath  the  character 
of  a  gentleman  in  his  deportment,  and  a  still  less  desire 
to  listen  any  longer  to  his  coxcombical  remarks,  I  gave 
him  a  forced  salute,  and  was  soon  and  fortunately 
alone,  in  the  presence  of  the  colonel.  Making  use  of  the 
sign  with  which  you  have  honored  me,  it  seemed  to 
havd  had  the  influence  of  electricity  upon  him,  as  in 
one  instant  a  cheerful  appearance  mantled  his  cheek, 
and  his  before  drooping  spirits  were  roused  to  every 
sense  of  action.  I  left  him,  though,  under  the  influence 
of  hope  and  suspense,  yet  cheerful  and  composed. 
Now,  sir,"  continued  Withrow,  with  a  pleasant  smile, 
looking  intently  at  the  major  as  he  spoke,  "  with  due 
deference  to  my  superior  and  fellow  soldier's  decision, 
I  ask  the  command  of  our,  it  is  true,  small,  but,  I 
know,  brave  detachment,  for  this  night  only,  and  if 
allowed  it,  will  proceed  to  issue  my  orders." 

"  With  every  emotion  of  my  heart,  and  grateful 
acknowledgement  of  the  kindness  we  have  received 
at  your  hands,  the  command  is  yours.  A  brave,  a 
generous,  a  noble-minded  soldier,  such  as  you  are, 
deserves  that  and  more,"  said  Laurence. 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  37 

"  That  must  be,"  said  Withrow,  interrupting  him, 
"  a  matter  of — if  at  all — remote  consideration ;  for, 
whatever  I  deserve  for  the  performance  of  that  which 
is  my  duty  to  the  gallant  in  distress,  or  to  the  unfor- 
tunate in  want,  I  am  always  compensated  for  by  the 
pleasure  I  feel  in  doing  so." 

"Noble,  generous  Withrow,"  replied  Laurence, 
"you  are  by  nature,  education,  and  I  believe,  birth, 
far  above  that  class  of  beings,  called  gentlemen,  in  the 
costume  of  fine  dress,  few  of  whom  have  any  just 
claim  to  the  rank  and  title,  but  who  are  in  point  of 
fact,  mere  animals  of  the  creation  in  the  shape  of  man. 
This  night  the  banner  of  your  generous  spirit  is  un- 
furled, and  the  brilliancy  of  a  soul  though  cased  in  the 
bosom  of  one  who  deserves  a  better  situation  than 
that  of  being  in  the  service  of  the  enemies  of  America, 
has  on  this  occasion  been  eminently  shown  to  me ; 
and  come  what  may,  I  and  my  brave  sergeant  are 
under  your  command." 

"You  honor  me,"  was  the  reply,  as  Withrow  wiped 
with  a  white  pocket-handkerchief  a  tear  that  stood 
ready  to  drop  from  the  lower  lid  of  his  eye.  "The 
present,"  he  continued,  "  is  not  the  time  to  speak  of 
birth  and  education,  but  a  momentous  one  to  both  of 
you  as  well  as  to  Colonel  Leftridge.  I  have  made 
every  preparation  for  his  triumphal  escape  from  his 
brutal  enemies.  You  will  at  the  appointed  hour  follow 
me  in  silence,  to  the  place  of  his  confinement,  where  I 
have  so  arranged  it,  as  to  cut  the  cords  which  bind 
him — place  in  his  stead  a  dress  intended  to  represent 
him  lying  stretched  upon  the  floor,  and  from  every 
appearance,  to  make  it  seem  as  if  he  himself  was  still 
there  and  bound.  I  have  also  procured  for  him  a 


38  THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTIIERINGAY. 

kind  of  overcoat  worn  here  by  the  disaffected  of  your 
countrymen  ;  and  likewise  the  words  used  for  the  coun- 
tersign of  our  army  for  the  next  twenty-four  hours, 
next  following  twelve  o'clock  to-night.  It  is  "  Terror." 
By  the  means  thus  in  my  power,  we  shall  all  reach 
this  hut  again  in  safety,  and  when  you  will  be,  as  you 
have  been  and  are  now,  out  of  danger,  and  from  which 
humble  abode,  to  retrace  your  steps  to  where,  doubt- 
less, you  are  by  this  time  anxiously  looked  for.  I 
must  now  go,"  continued  Withrow,  "  and  at  twelve 
o'clock  will  again  return  to  you." 

So  saying,  and  gently  closing  the  door  after  him, 
he  left  the  major  and  Hyne  to  reflect  upon  the  orders 
of  their  new  commander,  and  upon  the  excellence  of 
character  they  had  already  discovered  the  practice  of 
in  him. 

An  excellent  supper  was  prepared  by  their  un- 
known hostess,  and  partaken  of  by  them,  after  which 
our  two  friends  remained  in  constant  watchfulness, 
as  well  as  anxious  expectation,  for  the  arrival  of  the 
silent  and  solemn  hour  of  midnight.  It  arrived,  and 
with  it,  their  highly  esteemed  and  invaluable  friend, 
Withrow. 

."I  have,"  said  he,  smiling,  "arrived  at  the  ap- 
pointed hour,  and  have  consequently  escaped,  not 
only  censure,  but  the  danger  of  being  court-mar- 
tialled  by  my  superior,"  as  he  looked  adroitly  -at 
Laurence. 

"  I  thank  you,"  returned  the  major,  "  for  the  com- 
pliment conferred.  You  are  now  our  all  and  entire 
hope,  and  upon  you  depends  the  accomplishment  of 
one  of  the  greatest  achievements  of  our  lives — the 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  39 

rescue  from  an  ignominious  death  of  the  brave  and 
gallant  Colonel  Leftridge." 

"  Well,  major,"  replied  Withrow,  "  it  is  now  time 
for  us  to  be  on  our  embassy.  If  surprised,  I  doubt 
much  an  honorable  reception  from  those  who  are  the 
would-be  possessors  of  the  prowesses  in  either  one  or 
mQre  of  the  sentiments  that  are  the  invariable  marks 
of  distinction  between  man  and  man."  Thus  saying, 
he  directed  them  to  follow  him,  and  in  the  next 
moment  our  detachment  was  again  on  its  march 
toward  the  British  encampment. 

"There,"  said  Withrow,  in  a  whisper,  and  as  he 
passed,  at  some  distance  from  them,  a  very  comfort- 
able farm-house,  "are  the  quarters  of  our  commander- 
in-chief,  and  there,"  directing  the  attention  of  the 
major  and  sergeant  to  lights  in  the  building,  "  are 
the  two  rooms  occupied  by  the  wife  and  only 
daughter  of  one  of  your  distinguished  countrymen 
and  fellow-partisan  warriors.  If,"  continued,  he, 
"  our  chieftain  knew  what  I  am  engaged  in  to-night, 
he  would  doubtless  hang  me  upon  the  same  gibbet 
erected  for  the  execution  of  Colonel  Leftridge.  It  is 
not  often  the  case  that  the  gallows  is  cheated  out  of 
its  subject  when  preparations  are  so  far  made  for  its 
especial  benefit,  as  they  now  are.  But  I  intend  on 
the  present  occasion  to  commit  a  robbery,  and  to 
take  from  its  fangs  one  whom  destiny  never  intended 
should  meet  death  -so  ignominiously.  Yonder," 
continued  he,  and  after  going  a  few  yards  further, 
is  the  house  in  which  the  colonel  is  confined." 

In  a  little  time  the  party  halted  behind  a  brush 
fence,  which  led  up  to  the  back  part  of  the  house. 

"  Stay  here,"  said  Withrow,  '  till  I  go  and  recon- 


40  THE   HEIEES3ES   OF    FOTHERIXGAY. 

noitre  ;  perhaps  some  danger  may  be  near,  and  if  so, 
it  is  wise  to  be  prepared,  and  to  avail  ourselves  of 
the  old,  yet  true,  maxim  in  military  affairs,  that 

"  A  timely  retreat, 
May  save  a  defeat." 

Thus  saying,  he  bent  his  way  with  a  cautious  step, 
till  he  arrived  at  the  back  part  of  the  house,  and 
putting  his  ear  to  the  window-shutter  covering  a 
blank  sash,  listened  for  a  few  moments,  then  return- 
ing to  his  two  friends,  said,  "  All  is  still,  and  we  will 
now  venture  to  enter  the  house." 

At  that  moment,  a  glance  of  his  keen  and  pene- 
trating eye  caught  sight  of  a  human  being  coming 
towards  them,  but  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  fence 
from  where  they  were. 

In  an  instant,  and  by  a  token  given  his  two  friends, 
Withrow  and  they  were  prostrate  upon  the  ground. 

"  There  is  danger  here,"  he  whispered ;  "  but  be 
perfectly  still.  I  think  myself  acquainted  with  the 
cause  of  it,  and,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  it  will  not  be 
long  an  obstacle  to  our  proceedings." 

After  a  moment's  pause,  with  intent  observation, 
he  added,  "  I  am  right  in  the  supposition ;  it  is  one 
of  the  officers  attached  to  the  company  commanded 
by  the  marauding  captain  of  the  Tories,  and  who 
have  Colonel  Leftridge  as  their  prisoner.  Stay  here, 
and  be  perfectly  quiet.  I  must  watch  his  manoeuvres, 
in  order  to  thwart  his  purposes,  and  those  of  his 
atrocious  leader." 

At  this  he  left  our  two  friends  for  the  second  time, 
and  proceeded  to  the  out-house  again,  as  the  building 
was  called.  Upon  his  arrival  at  the  back  of  it,  he 


THE   HEIBESSES    OF   FOTHEKINGAY.  41 

distinctly  heard  the  officer  in  conversation  with  Left- 
ridge.  At  this,  he  retraced  his  steps  to  where  they 
were,  and  summoning  Laurence  and  Hyne  to  follow 
him,  returned  to  the  rear  of  the  house,  when  in  a 
few  moments  after  they  heard  the  following  dialogisti- 
cal  remarks  pass  between  the  Tory  officer  and 
Leftridge. 

"  Well,  fellow,  have  you  slept  much  to-night  ?" 

"  Whether  I  have  or  have  not,  is  a  matter  of  no 
consequence  to  you,  nor  those  with  whom  you  are 
associated,"  replied  the  colonel. 

"You  are  more  impudent  than  becomes  you  at 
such  a  time  as  this,"  said  the  Tory. 

"  How  so  ?" 

"  Because  you  are  now  in  the  presence  of  one  of 
your  superiors,  and  whose  party  is  far  preferable 
to  that  one  of  which  you  are  now  an  undone  com- 
ponent." 

"  If  you  are  one  of  that  class,  who  are  my  superiors, 
and  the  party  of  which  you  speak  preferable  to  the 
one  of  which  I  am  a  component,  I  pity  alike  your 
insolence  and  your  blind  zeal ;  and  with  regard  to 
your  party,  must  add,  that  I  think  it  a  greater  honor 
to  suffer  the  death  which  seems  now  to  await  me, 
than  to  entertain  for  one  moment  the  hope  of  being 
delivered  from  it  through  their  intercession.  And," 
added  the  Colonel,  "  when  I  shall  have  ascended  the 
scaffold,  and  there  do  behold  for  the  last  time  the 
resplendent  rays  of  the  majestic  luminary  of  day 
passing  over  the  sons-  of  freedom,  arid  their  just 
rights,  I  shall  invoke  the  Author  of  all  good  to  pro- 
tect them  in  it ;  and  in  regard  to  the  disaffected  of  my 
country,  shall  say  to  Almighty  God,  as  One  of  old  did, 


42  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY. 

"  Father  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they 
do." 

"  The  approach  of  death  makes  you  penitent,"  con- 
tinued the  officer.  "  Have  you  sought  for  and  ob- 
tained pardon  of  God  for  having  dared  to  take  up  arms 
against  his  Majesty  King  George  ?" 

"  I  have  no  sin  of  that  kind  to  answer  for ;  nor  have 
I  thought  proper  in  my  prayers  to  Almighty  God  to 
make  mention  of  any  allegiance,  due  from  me  to  any 
earthly  power,  save  that  of  my  country  and  to  my 
country's  cause,"  replied  Leftridge. 

"  You  have  seen  the  folly  of  those  madmen  in 
arms,"  continued  the  officer,  "  who  have  tried,  but  in 
vain,  to  war  against  our  good  king ;  you  have  like- 
wise seen  that  Cornwallis  has  beaten  your  great 
General  Greene,  and  that  he  also  is  the  indirect  cause 
of  your  present,  as  well  as  intended  future  punish- 
ment. You  have  it  in  your  power  now  to  retract  and 
save  yourself  from  the  degraded  death  that  awaits  you, 
and  that  too  at  sunrise." 

"  I  shall,"  replied  Leftridge,  "  in  being  gibbetted, 
still  live  in  the  memory  of  my  fellow  soldiers  in  arms ; 
and  in  the  suffering  of  death,  shall  leave  a  monument 
of  the  love  I  have  for  the  independence  of  my  country ; 
whose  flag,  when  she  shall  have  become  victorious, 
will  cause  all  such  animals  as  you  are  to  quake  with 
fear ;  and  to  know  better  than  to  disturb  by  insult,  as 
is  now  the  case,  the  repose  of  the  brave.  With  me  on 
the  present  occasion,  one  of  my  greatest  pleasures  left, 
would  be  to  see  you  depart  from  my  presence,  leaving 
me  alone  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  few  remaining  hours 
of  life,  which  agreeably  to  the  orders  of  your  chief, 
are  yet  mine." 


THE    HEIKESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY  4:3 

"  Well  then,'1  replied  the  would-be  great,  "  I  shall 

do  as  you  wish  I  should,  after  making  only  one  other 
remark." 

"What  is  that?"  said  the  worn,  weary  and  gallant 
soldier. 

"  It  is,  that  I  shall  have  the  honor  of  tying  the  knot 
which  is  to  choke  to  death  at  sunrisf  the  rebellious 
Colonel  Leftridge."  At  this  the  oi  ^.er  withdrew, 
closing,  but  not  locking  the  door  after  nim. 

Leftiidge  was  now  alone,  yet  exceedingly  unbappy. 
The  unexpected  midnight  visit  of  the  officer ;  the  sus- 
pense into  which  his  whole  mental  faculties  were  cast ; 
and  the  unknown  fate  of  his  three  friends,  bore  hea- 
vily upon  him. 

The  hour  however  of  his  delivery  had  come. 

"Now,"  said  Withrow,  after  having  watched  the 
entry  of  the  officer  into  his  quarters,  "  is  our  time. 
So  saying,  the  three  friends  leaped  the  fence,  entered 
the  house,  and  by  the  dim  light  of  a  small  lamp  which 
the  officer  had  left  burning,  appeared  before,  and 
with  their  signal  saluted  the  just  before  desponding 
Colonel.  All  was  silent,  and  in  a  few  moments  Left- 
ridge  was  at  liberty.  An  artificial  sufferer  was  left  in 
his  place,  bound  in  every  particular  as  he  had  been, 
and  covered,  being  ready  to  be  put  to  any  purpose 
which  it  might  be  adapted  to  at  the  expected,  as  well 
as  appointed  hour  of  sunrise. 

Upon  the  artificial  body  was  left  the  following  sen- 
tence, written  on  a  small  scrap  of  paper  taken  from  a 
pocket-book.  "  The  sun  will  rise  upon  Colonel  Left- 
ridge  as  a  freeman!  while  those  who  would  have 
hanged  him,  are  but  mere  machines  (not  men)  in  the 
service  of  an  oppressor !" 


44  THE    HEIKESSES   OF   FOTHERTNGAY. 

In  a  few  moments  the  pantomime  ended,  and  the 
actors  of  it  were  on  their  peaceful  and  unmolested 
way  to  the  hut  of  Withrow,  and  from  whence  to  take 
their  departure  for  the  American  camp. 

Upon  their  arrival  at  the  hut,  Withrow  gave  in- 
structions for  a  breakfast  to  be  prepared,  though,  at 
rather  an  earlier  hour  than  usual,  for  his  guests. 
While  it  was  in  preparation,  the  parties  conversed 
familiarly  with  one  another  upon  the  events  of  that 
and  the  preceding  night. 

In  the  meantime  the  application  of  warm  water  and 
soap,  followed  by  a  skilful  dressing  of  the  Colonel's 
wound,  contributed  mitch  to  his  comfort,  and  strength- 
ened his  ability,  to  undergo  their  intended  return  to 
the  American  army  that  night. 

In  reply  to  some  remark  relative  to  him,  Withrow 
said  :  "  I  have,  gentlemen,  nearly  reached  the  climax 
of  my  present  attentions,  upon  me  to  you  ;  and  soon 
we  part,  to  meet,  perhaps,  no  more.  Be  this  as  it 
may,  I  have,  nevertheless,  one  boon  to  ask  of  all  three 
of  you ;  and  that  is,  that  you  will  remember  and  speak 
of,  in  your  more  happy  moments,  the  soldier  and  his 
hut  near  the  Battle-ground  of  Guilford." 

"  Such  boons  as  that  of  which  you  have  just  spoken, 
are  always  being  paid,  by  the  grateful  heart,  and  with 
us  it  shall  surely  be  the  case.  Even  then,  my  dear 
friend  and  deliverer,  you  will  be  but  poorly  compen- 
sated for  your  generosity  and  kindness  to  me  in  this 
night,  and  here  permit  me  to  ask,  is  there  nothing 
more  that  we  can  do,  or  have  done  for  you,"  replied 
Leftridge. 

"  Nothing,  Colonel,  for  to  live  in  the  memory  of 
the  brave,  out  of  the  service  cheerfully  rendered 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEEINGAY.  45 

them  to-night,  is  alone  a  sufficient  compensation  for 
me,"  said  Withrow. 

At  this  moment  they  were  called  to  breakfast,  and 
after  having  partaken  of  it,  our  three  friends  arose 
from  the  table  with  a  view  to  departure. 

"  One  thing  more,  Colonel,"  said  the  gallant 
soldier,  "  and  then  I  shall  have  discharged  the 
entire  of  my  duty  upon  this  memorable  occasion  ; 
after  which  I  shall  bid  you  and  your  present  com- 
panions farewell — for  aught  I  know — during  life." 
Thus  saying,  he  went  to  a  chest  standing  in  one 
corner  of  the  hut  and,  unlocking  it,  took  from  it  a 
sword,  belt  and  sash,  a  pair  of  spurs,  and  a  very 
valuable  gold  watch.  "  These,  sir,"  continued  he, 
"  are  yours.  To  obtain  them  I  have  committed  a 
theft,  which  in  the  estimation  of  those  like  from 
whom  they  were  taken  would,  doubtless,  have  been 
enough  to  have  sentenced  me  under  court-martial  to 
the  punishment  of,  at  least,  the  gauntlet,  ball  and 
chain,  or,  perhaps,  solitary  confinement.  But  with 
those  whose  bosoms  throb  with  ingredients  of  a  far 
more  noble  quality,  the  act  on  my  partjvill  be  con- 
sidered a  just  one,  since  it  has  enabled  me  to  return 
them  to  their  rightful  owner.  The  night  of  the  day," 
he  continued,  "upon  which  you  were  taken,  was  an 
entire  scene  of  ravage  and  plunder — upon  the  living, 
upon  the  dying,  and  the  dead  of  your  countrymen 
and  brethren-in-arms,  among  the  herds  of  wretches 
by  whom  you  were  captured,  and  by  whom  you  were, 
unheard,  condemned  to  die.  The  outrage  committed 
upon  your  person  was  more  than  I  thought  a  gene- 
rous foe,  in  arms  against  you,  could  permit.  I  could 
say  nothing,  because  I  was  one  amongst  others  of 


46  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

my  fellow-British  soldiers  ordered  to  the  spot  on  special 
detail,  and  where  I  first  discovered  you.  An  eye  witness 
of  the  scene,  I  beheld  you  stripped  of  the  articles  now 
before  you,  together  with  one  other,  and  that  was  your 
purse,  with  its  contents ;  the  two  last  were  out  of  my 
power  to  regain,  as  your  funds  were  quickly  distributed 
among  those  immediately  around  you,  and  your 
purse,  with  his  share  of  your  cash,  pocketed  by  your 
intended  executioner.  I  felt  indignant  at  what  was 
passing  before  me,  and  from  that  moment  resolved  to 
regain  your  property,  retain  it  in  my  keeping,  rescue 
you,  and  return  the  effects  to  their  gallant  owner." 

Thus  saying,  he  walked  up  to  Leftridge,  and  hand- 
ing him  the  sword,  said,  "  Take  this,  Colonel,  and 
the  three  articles  accompanying  it ;  continue  to  wear 
your  sword  in  the  defence  of  your  country,  till  her 
enemies  shall  have  acknowledged  her  independence, 
or  till  you  die  in  trying  to  effect  it.  Should  you 
survive  her  present  struggle  for  liberty,  and  her 
people  become  free,  my  now  parting  wish  is,  that 
you  and  Major  Laurence,  when  adverting  to  the  events 
of  the  American  Revolution,  will  occasionally  associ- 
ate with  them  your  humble  friend."  Then  turning  to 
Hyne,  he  continued,  "  Sergeant,  you  are  a  subaltern 
in  the  army  of  that  people,  whose  love  of  liberty, 
whose  wholesome  laws,  and  whose  firm  basis  is  a 
republic,  will  one  day  astonish  Europe,  and  make 
kings  shudder  upon  their  thrones.  Preserve,  I  pray 
you,  your  honor  and  integrity,  as  well  as  faithful 
adherence  to  your  country's  cause ;  think  not,  as 
does  the  empty-headed  and  would-be  great  man,  that 
dress  and  splendor  are  the  only  necessary  requisites 
to  preferment,  and  to  that  of  being  gentlemen.  In 


THE   HEIRESSES    OF   FOTHERINGAY.  47 

such  habiliments  the  most  profound  arrogance,  impu- 
dence and  ignorance  are  but  too  often  found.  The 
ape  in  mimicking  the  monkey  arrives  at  the  climax 
of  but  a  shallow-brained  intellect,  and  is  still  an 
ape.  So,  in  like  manner,  are  seen  men  following  in 
the  rank  of  those  who  they  can  only  imitate,  and 
adapting  themselves  to  the  manners  and  customs 
of  others,  they  pass  through  life  noticed,  if  at  all, 
only  for  their  ignorance." 

"  We,"  continued  he,  "  are  soldiers,  and,  I  hope, 
friends,  though  fighting  under  different  banners. 
This  night  may  be  our  last,  as  it  has  been  our  second 
meeting ;  be  that  as  it  may,  let  us  continue  to  act 
well  our  parts." 

At  that  he  shook  hands  with  Hyne,  and  turning 
around,  saluted  the  officers  by  a  touch  of  his  fore- 
head with  the  back  of  his  right  hand.  This  done, 
he  presented  his  hand  to  Leftridge,  who,  astonished 
at  his  dignified  deportment,  grasped  it  firmly  in  his 
own,  saying,  "  Noble,  generous  man  !  you  have  this 
night  placed  me  under  innumerable  obligations,  all  of 
which  shall  be  lasting  as  life  itself.  What  can  I  do  in 
return  for  and  such  an  occasion  as  the  present  repre- 
sents ?  Only  say,  and  whatever  it  may  be,  be  it  great 
or  small,  receive  it  but  as  a  limited  return  for  your 
kindness,  letting  it  exist,  for  the  time  being,  a  memento 
between  us  of  the  obligations  I  am  under  to  vou." 

4 

"  Nothing,  colonel,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Then,"  said  Leftridge,  "  if  there  is  nothing  accept- 
able by  you,  which  I,  nor  those  who,  on  this  night, 
you  have  befriended,  can  command  for  you,  I  request, 
ere  we  part,  perhaps  forever,  that  you  will  accept  of 
one  thing  from  me." 


48  THE    HEIRESSES   OF    POTHERING  AY 

"  What  is  that,  colonel  ?"  resumed  With  row. 

"  My  gold  repeating  watch,'1  said  Leftridge. 

"I  am  honored,"  was  the  reply;  "and  to  oblige 
one  for  whom  I  have  felt  so  much  unaccounted-for 
concern,  sir — I  will  do  so." 

In  a  few  moments  the  adieu  was  passed  between 
them,  and  Withrow  and  our  three  Americans  were 
soon  on  the  way  to  the  encampment  of  their  beloved 
general,  where,  upon  their  arrival,  all  was  full  of  joy 
and  delight  at  their  return,  and  restoration  of  Colonel 
Leftridge  to  the  command  of  his  regiment,  to  his 
men,  and  to  his  army. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

The  impetus  to  gratitude,  is  the  sense  of  obligation  under  which  it 
places  us. 

SOON  after  the  termination  of  the  •  events  just 
recited,  Cornwallis,  at  the  head  of  his  heretofore  vic- 
torious army,  was  on  his  rapid  march  to  Yorktown, 
in  Virginia,  where,  unexpected  as  it  was  unknown, 
and  never  even  thought  of  by  him,  he  was  soon  to 
surrender  his  sword ;  and  by  which  act,  to  announce 
to  the  world  the  acknowledgment  of  his  sovereign, 
that  "America  was  free  and  independent!" 

Upon  the  sixth  of  October,  1781,  the  death-bell  of 
English  tyranny  over  the  American  people,  began  to 
toll  its  last  peal ;  and,  in  a  short  time  after,  a  cessa- 
tion of  hostilities  ensued,  followed  by  the  surrender 
of  Cornwallis  to  the  chieftain  of  the  American  army. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  49 

The  war  was  terminated,  and  the  next  thing  was, 
the  disbanding  of  the  troops,  and  farewell  of  their 
commander  to  his  officers  and  men. 

That  affecting  scene  took  place,  and,  shortly  after, 
officers  and  men  of  the  army  were  seen  bidding  one 
another  farewell;  and  they  who  had  so  gallantly 
achieved  the  liberty  of  their  country,  were  winding 
their  way  to  their  respective  homes,  guaranteed  to 
them  by  the  "father  of  his  country,"  the  immortal 
and  ever  memorable  Washington  1 

The  tri-colored  flag  of  their  country,  had  not  only 
stimulated  them  with  a  determined  zeal  in  defence  of 
its  cause,  but  also,  a  purposed  intent  on  the  parts  of 
Leftridge  and  Lawrence  to  perpetuate  their  then 
strongly  cemented  friendship  for  one  another  in  future 
life. 

For  that  purpose  they  mutually  agreed  that  should 
they  become  fathers,  (so  far  as  union  between  their 
children  might  be  concerned)  it  should  be  their  first 
and  greatest  care  to  accomplish,  however  indigent  the 
circumstances  of  either  one  or  the  other,  or  both,  might 
be  at  the  time  of  mature  age  of  their  children. 

Nor  did  the  compact  stop  there ;  the  fidelity  of 
Hyne,  and  the  noble  and  disinterested  deportment  of 
Withrow  in  the  time  of  danger,  peril  and  need,  to 
both  of  them,  were  matters  of  an  equally  wreighty,  and 
necessarily  decisive  settlement,  by  and  between  our 
iolonel  and  major. 

To  find  the  soldiers  just  named,  and  to  impart  to 
them  their  mutual  wish  to  be  considered  and  used  by 
them  as  their  mutual  friends  in  all  the  vicissitudes  of 
their  future  lives,  were  the  next  objects  of  Leftridge 
and  Lawrence. 

4 


50  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY. 

With  a  view  the  better  to  effect  the  purposes  in- 
tended, and  to  a  speedy  meeting  with  them,  it  was 
thought  best,  as  the  army  had  been  disbanded,  and 
not  knowing  what  had  become  of  Hyne,  to  put  a 
notice  in  some  newspaper  published  in  Philadelphia, 
in  order  to  attract  his  attention.  To  find  Withrow 
was  a  matter  involving  a  still  greater  uncertainty,  and 
attended  with  considerable  doubt,  as  the  British  troops 
were  marching  daily  into  the  City  of  New  York,  from 
whence  they  were  hourly  embarking  for  England. 
Our  two  officers,  however,  had  determined  upon  it, 
and  the  following  letter  was  written : — 

"To  MR.  JAMES  WITHROW, 

Soldier  in  the  service  of  His  Britannic  Majesty's 
8th  Eegt.,  Comp.  '  K.'  City  of  New  York. 

"  Philadelphia,  Dec.  9$,  1783. 
"DEAR  SIR: 

"  As  a  brother  soldier,  and  after  the  termination  of 
a  long  and  bloody  war,  resulting  in  the  liberty  and 
independence  of  my  country,  I  am  desirous  of  repaying 
you,  in  some  measure,  for  your  gallant  and  noble  con- 
duct to  me,  in  the  latter  part  of  that  struggle — I 
allude  to  the  three  nights  subsequent  to  the  battle  of 
Guilford. 

"  Your  friendship,  upon  that  occasion,  merits  my 
gratitude  ;  which,  with  me,  knows  no  limit.  My  life 
was  at  the  disposal  of  my  own  countrymen,  in  arms 
against  me ;  and  you,  a  noble,  a  magnanimous  and 
generous-hearted  foe,  at  the  risk  of  your  own  life, 
saved  that  of  mine. 

"  I  am  in  ignorance  of  where  to  find  you,  and  hence 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  51 

this  letter ;  which,  as  you  will  perceive,  is  directed  to 
you  at  New  York.  Should  it  reach  you  there,  I  shall 
be  most  happy  in  a  visit  from  you,  before  your 
departure  for  the  land  and  home  of  your  birth. 

"  You  will  find  me  at  the  '  Franklin  Hotel,'  where  I 
shall  remain  until  the  25th  inst.,  when  I  shall  leave 
here  for  my  home  and  intended  residence,  in  the 
western  part  of  Virginia. 

Very  truly  yours, 

"GEORGE  LEFTRIDGE, 

"  (late)  Colonel  U.  S.  A." 

This  letter  was  mailed  for  New  York,  and  the  next 
morning  the  following  "  Card,"  appeared  in  the  "  Phil- 
adelphia Herald  of  Liberty"  over  the  signature  of 
Leftridge,  in  the  following  words  : 

"  Sergeant  Samuel  Hyne,  late  of  the  Army  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  Second  Kegt.  of  Infantry 
and  Co.  '  C,'  is  requested  to  call,  with  as  little  delay, 
after  seeing  this,  as  may  be  possible  for  him,  at  the 
'  Franklin  Hotel,'  in  this  City,  and  oblige  his  friend, 
"  GEORGE  LEFTRIDGE, 

"  late  Col.  U.  S.  Army. 

"  Philadelphia,  10 th  of  Dec.,  1783." 

In  a  few'  days  after  the  appearance  of  this  brief  re- 
quest to  Hyne,  our  Colonel  received  the  following 
letter: 

"  New  York,  llth  Dec.,  1783. 
"DEAR  SIR: 

"  It  is  much  easier  for  me  to  feel  than  to  attempt 
describing  the  pleasure  enjoyed  upon  the  receipt  of 


52  THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERJNGAY. 

your  favor  under  date  of  the  9th  inst.  In  it  you 
have  done  me  the  honor  to  say  that  you  wish  to  repay 
me  in  some  way  or  other  for  the  services  I  rendered 
you  in  the  first  three  nights  after  the  hard  fought  bat- 
tle of  Guilford. 

"  Permit  me  to  say  in  reply,  that  the  happiness  I 
then  felt  in  rendering  you  the  service,  and,  I  natter 
myself,  in  being  the  prime  means  of  your  restoration 
to  your  country  and  to  her  army,  is  the  only  compen- 
sation that  I  then  did  or  can  at  the  present  time  look 
for  or  accept  of. 

"  As  relates  to  your  desire  to  see  me,  I  had,  before 
receiving  your  letter,  come  to  the  conclusion  of  trying 
to  find,  if  possible,  three  soldiers,  and  allow  me  here 
to  add,  brave  men  of  the  American  army,  the  memory 
of  whom  I  shall  ever  cherish  as  highly  esteemed 
friends,  in  the  persons  of  Colonel  Lefthdge,  Major 
Laurence,  and  Sergeant  Hyne. 

"To-morrow  I  shall  receive  my  discharge  from  ser- 
vice in  the  British  army,  and  having  determined  to 
make  your  country  my  future  home,  and  in  so  doing 
to  identify  myself  with  those  belonging  to  the  Eepub- 
lic  of  America,  I  shall,,  with  as  little  delay  as  possi- 
ble, go  to  Philadelphia,  where  you  shall  be  called 
upon  with  great  pleasure  by, 

"  Truly  your  friend, 

"JAMES  WITHROW. 

"•CoL.  GEO.  LEFTRIDGE,  Philadelphia,  Pa." 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  53 


CHAPTER   VII. 

The  benevolent  act  'from  feeling,  not  ostentation. 

AT  the  period  of  which  I  am  speaking,  though  one 
in  which  America  was  acknowledged  as  free  and  in- 
dependent by  not  only  the  government  of  England, 
but  by  those  also  of  all  Europe,  an  unavoidable  as 
well  as  unlocked  for  consequence  grew  out  of  the  Ee- 
volution ;  and  that  was  the  want  of  means  within  the 
reach  of  Congress  to  clothe  and  pay  her  troops.  This 
almost  death-like  dilemma  was  often  a  source  of  hor- 
ror and  despair  to  the  officers  as  well  as  men ;  and 
when  they  were  mustered  out  of  service,  many  a  poor 
fellow  whose  love  of  country  alone  made  him  fight 
and  bleed  cheerfully  in  her  defence,  had  not  at  the 
close  of  the  war  a  sufficiency  to  pay  for  a  breakfast. 

Leftridge  and  Laurence  were,  happily,  not  of  that 
class ;  they  were  men  who,  though  born  in  the  United 
States,  had  had  large  estates  left  them  by  relations  in 
England,  as  well  as  handsome  properties  in  expect- 
ancy from  their  fathers,  who  emigrated  among  other 
wealthy  Englishmen,  one  to  New  York  and  the  other 
to  Virginia,  at  an  early  day. 

Withrow  nor  Hyne  had  not  as  yet  been  seen  or 
heard  of.  The  evening  of  the  twenty-third  of  Decem- 
ber had  arrived,  and  our  two  officers  had  already 
begun  to  arrange  their  affairs  preparatory  to  a  depart- 
ure, separation,  and  journey  to  their  respective  homes. 
Seated  by  a  comfortable  fire,  and  being  in  a  loqua- 


54  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY. 

cious  humor,  reviewing  the  scenes  of  their  boyhood, 
and  those  involved  in  that  of  the  war  just  closed,  the 
subject  turned  upon  their  two  absent  friends. 

"Gratitude,"  said  Leftridge,  "is  an  ingredient  of 
my  nature  of  which  I  am  most  proud ;  and  how  far 
the  circumstances  under  which  it  is  due  from  me  to 
Withrow  extends,  are  as  equally  incalculable  as  my 
admiration  of  him  is  unbounded.  When  he  comes,  I 
purpose  making  him  an  offer,  in  testimony  of  my 
regard.  I  think  the  offer  exceedingly  small,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  claims  he  has  upon  me;  and  little,  in 
that  light,  as  I  know  the  offer  is,  I  sincerely  hope  that 
it  will  be  accepted  by  that  obscure,  but,  as  I  cannot 
help  thinking,  well-descended  man.  His  generosity 
and  kindness  are  what  I  admire ;  and  the  tincture  of 
eccentricity  interwoven  with  and  shown  in  all  his  acts, 
is  a  trait  of  character  in  him  with  which  I  am  most 
pleased:  it  is  of  that  cast  soaring  so  far  above  the 
ordinary,  that  I  like,  instead  of  being  disposed  to 
censure  the  practice  of  in  him. 

"  Some  convulsion,  perhaps,  in  the  affairs  of  his  life, 
has  brought  it  upon  him ;  and  his  retiring,  yet  gen- 
tlemanly and  polite  deportment  added,  will,  doubtless, 
make  him  an  agreeable  companion,  to  those  who  may 
become  acquainted  with  and  know  him.  Men  read 
books  in  order  to  improve  and  strengthen  their 
minds,  yet  the  immediate  intercourse  with  his  fellow, 
enables  man  to  read  man,  and  thereby  to  arrive  at  an 
immediate  conclusion  upon  the  use  the  work  has  been, 
is,  or  may  be  to  him.  I  purpose  studying  Withrow, 
and  to  merit,  as  far  as  I  can,  his  high-toned  and  dis- 
interested friendship  already  manifested  for  me/' 

"  In  the  delineations  you  have  given  of  the  British. 


TUE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  55 

soldier,  you  remind  me  of  yourself,"  replied  Lau- 
rence: "and  now  tell  me,"  continued  he,  "what  do 
you  purpose  doing  for  him  ?" 

"  I  shall,"  replied  the  colonel,  "  offer  him  one  of 
my  farms  in  Carolina;  and  from  a  desire  to  perpetuate 
more  forcibly  his  recollection  of  me,  I  shall  give  him 
the  one  occupied  by  Lord  Corawallis  as  his  head- 
quarters after  our  last  battle  in  that  state,  with  him." 

At  that  moment  a  servant  entered,  saying  that 
"two  gentlemen  were  belowr  desirous  of  seeing  Col. 
Leftridge  and  Major  Laurence." 

"  Ask  them  to  walk  up,  and  do  you  show  them  our 
apartments,"  was  the  reply.  In  a  few  moments, 
Withrow  and  Hyne  entered  their  room. 

"  I  congratulate  you,  gentlemen,  upon  the  liberty 
and  independence  of  your  country,"  said  the  former, 
as  Ke  put  his  right  forefinger  across  his  lips. 

"  And  so  I  do,  too,"  said  the  latter,  "  while  I  am, 
also,  happy  in  once  more  beholding  my  Major  and 
my  Colonel,  under  whose  command  I  have  helped  to 
save  my  country  as  well  as  to  conquer  her  enemies." 

Their  salutations  were  warmly  returned  by  the  two 
officers,  and  with  all  that  cordiality  of  feeling  on  the 
part  of  Leftridge  which  is  alone  the  accompanying 
impetus  of  a  noble  soul  and  a  genuine  sense  of  grati- 
tude for  favors  conferred. 

"  In  what  way  have  you  met  with  one  another,  and 
to  what  lucky  chance  are  we  indebted  for  the  plea- 
sure of  seeing  you  both  here  at  one  and  the  same 
time  ?"  said  Leftridge. 

"  Two  days  since,  and  about  sunset,  sir,"  said 
Hyne,  "I  arrived  in  the  city,  after  having  seen  your 
kind  card  inviting  me  to  call  upon  you.  Having  no 


56  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

acquaintance  from  whom  I  could  learn  any  localities 
of  the  city,  I  wandered  from  place  to  place  till  after 
dark,  trying  to  find  the  '  Franklin  Hotel.'  "When  I 
would  ask  for  it,  and  would  tell  them  of  whom  I 
inquired,  who  I  wished  to  see  there,  the  general  reply 
was — the  question  of,  '  Have  you  any  money  ?' 
Upon  being  answered  in  the  negative,  they  would 
say,  'Such  a  poor  looking  devil  as  you  are,  and  in 
the  tattered  dress  of  a  '  continental  soldier,'  is  more 
fit  to  see  your  officers  in  a  barrack-room  than  in  a 
hotel.'  I  would  sometimes  ask,  'Can  you  let  me 
stay  by  your  fire  in  the  bar-room  for  the  night?' 
'  No !'  was  the  reply,  with  the  additional  want  of  feel- 
ing :  '  we  have  no  desire  to  accommodater  nor  spare 
place  for  such  looking  fellows  as  you  are!'  Such 
were  the  usual  replies  to  all  my  solicitations ;  and 
thus  I  wandered  till  the  clock  announced  the  arrival 
of  midnight  hour.  I  was  cold  and  hungry,  and 
had  not  at  that  time,  but  two  shillings  in  my  purse. 

"  With  my  knapsack  on  my  back,  in  which  I  had  two 
old  shirts,  and  my  discharge  from  service,  I  stepped 
into  a  small  inn  on  the  quay,  as  I  was  on  my  return 
to  the  ship  I  came  in,  and  where  I  proposed  asking  for 
a  hammock,  to  sleep  upon  the  remainder  of  the  night. 
In  the  inn  I  got  a  cold  supper,  and  the  privilege  of 
lying  by  the  fire.  Here  I  was  reduced  to  but  an  only 
shilling,  and  early  next  morning  was  again  on  my 
search  for  this  hotel.  Not  knowing  where  to  go  nor 
from  whom  to  ask  further  questions,  I  continued  wan- 
dering from  corner  to  corner,  and  from  street  to  street. 
For,  believe  me,  sir,  my  fund  of  spirits  as  well  as 
money  being  exhausted,  I  had  but  little  inclination  to 
make  my  feelings  any  longer  a  necessitated  debtor  to 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   TOTHERINGAY.  57 

the  insolence  of  an  upstart,  nor  to  that  class  of  cold- 
hearted  beings,  similar  to  those  I  had  met  with  the  even- 
ing before.  You  can  guess  my  astonishment,  as  well  as 
truly  great  and  surprising  pleasure  I  felt  when  passing 
the  Emigrant's  Hotel,  on  the  corner  of  Fourth  and 
Walnut  streets,  I  was  hailed  by  our  mutual  friend.  I 
did  not  know  him,  as  he  had  thrown  off  the  red  and 
had  put  on  that  dress  of  blue  broadcloth,  in  which  he 
now  appears  before  you.  But  upon  his  giving  me  the 
Guildford  signal,  I  immediately  ran  to  where  he  was 
standing  amongst  a  number  of  others  on  a  piazza,  and 
as  I  grasped  his  hand  in  my  own,  I  exclaimed,  with  the 
impulse  of  the  moment,  '  The  Hero  of  Guilford  !'  The 
remark  immediately  attracted  the  attention  of  those 
who  were  present.  Withrow  discovered  it,  and  soon 
conducting  me  into  his  room,  would  not  let  me  come 
from  it,  till  he  had  sent  out  and  had  brought  to  me, 
the  suit  of  clothes,  with  the  boots  and  hat  I  now  wear; 
besides  ten  doubloons,  which  with  his  own  hands  were 
put  into  my  pockets,  accompanied  by  the  remark  of 
'  they  will  dissipate  the  future  appearance  of  gloom, 
which  a  few  moments  ago  pressed  so  heavily  upon 
you.'  I  have  now,  "  continued  Hyne,  "told  you  in 
as  brief  a  manner  as  I  could,  by  what  means  I  have 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  on  this  occasion,  and  by  one 
more  remark,  shall  inform  you  that  it  is  to  the  kind- 
ness of  Withrow,  that  I  am  indebted  for  the  comforts 
I  now  enjoy." 

'•You  are  by  no  means  my  debtor,"  replied  Withrow, 
"  for,  whatever  I  have  done  for  you,  was  an  act  of 
duty.  Agreeably  to  my  opinion,  man  cannot  please 
Deity  better  than  when  he  is  imitating  him  in  works 
of  disinterested  benevolence.  His  sun  shines  alike 


58  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY. 

brilliant  upon  all ;  and  the  products  of  the  earth  are, 
alike  bountifully  bestowed  upon  the  generous  as  upon 
the  ungenerous.  The  avaricious  and  isolated  being 
who  dares  not,  for  fear  of  offending  his  God,  Lucre, 
disturb  the  position  of  a  single  shilling,  in  his  to  him, 
death's  hour,  worthless  coffers,  is  a  mere  automaton, 
moved  by  no  feeling  whatever,  but  that  of  accu- 
mulating wealth,  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  will 
not  thank  him  while  living,  nor  bestow,  as  a  tribute 
of  respect  to  his  memory,  a  single  thought  upon  him 
when  he  is  gone.  And  to  carry  my  convictions  of 
human  life  still  further,  I  would  add,  that  the  most 
ordinary  of  the  creation  in  the  shape  of  man,  can,  if  he 
is  not  an  entire  idiot  or  fool,  burn  the  incense  of  flattery 
before  those  by  whom  he  may  have  been  befriended. 
But  let  that  friend  become  the  victim  of  adversity,  then 
the  scene  is  at  once  changed,  and  the  next  thing  is, 
that  he  is  not  only  forsaken,  but  lives  forgotten  and 
unknown  by  the  very  ones  who  had  before  felt  and 
experienced  his  kindest  attention. 

Here  Withrow  was  for  a  moment  silent,  when,  re- 
suming his  discourse  and  addressing  Leftridge,  he 
continued;  "I  have,  sir,  for  years,  lived  a  recluse. 
Dissatisfied  and  soured  at  what  I  thought  the  injustice 
of  others  toward  me,  I  sought  a  distant  land  in  the  dis- 
guise, not  choice,  of  a  soldier.  I  enlisted  and  Italy  was 
the  destined  theatre  of  action  for  my  regiment.  At  a 
moment  least  expected  by  me,  it  was  ordered  to 
America ;  and  the  high  regard  in  which  I  have  ever 
held  your  countrymen,  made  me  recoil  at  the  idea  of 
being  one  of  their  armed  foes.  I  had  long  before  that 
event,  imbibed  the  sentiments  and  feelings  of  my  coun- 
tryman towards  your  people — of  the  illustrious  Pitt,  and 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  59 

had  already  come  to  the  conclusion  that  your  claims 
on  England  were  just  ones ;  and  that  your  cause  of  re- 
monstrance was  based  upon  a  course  of  reason,  equally 
firm  and  fixed,  as  is  now  the  established  liberty  and 
independence  of  your  country.  It  is  unnecessary  for 
me  to  recite  to  you  the  duties  of  a  soldier;  I  was 
bound,  and  was  obliged  to  obey,  yet,  let  me  assure 
you,  that  against  your  countrymen,  I  merely  walked 
my  duties,  or  in  other  words,  was  invariably  lenient 
as  my  duty  could  possibly  allow  me  to  be.  For  that 
kind  of  feeling,  suffice  it  to  say,  I  had  to  exchange  the 
land  of  my  birth  for  that  of  another.  I  am  now  an 
adopted  citizen  of  your  country,  and  where  I  purpose 
spending  the  remainder  of  my  days.  Among  the  inci- 
dents falling  in  my  way,  I  have  had  the  pleasure  as 
well  as  honor  of  being  an  assistant  in  the  saving  of 
your  life,  an  event  more  assignable  to  accident  alone 
than  to  any  other,  and  to  which,  I  may  one  day  or 
other,  advert.  In  my  possession  is  an  honorable  dis- 
charge from  the  service  of  my  country,  and  I  am  now 
in  accordance  with  your  request,  again  before  you,  to 
know  your  wishes,  and  to  merit  still  further  the  friend- 
ship and  confidence  of  yourself  and  Major  Laurence." 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

The  germ  of  philanthropy  is  the  discard  of  self,  in  the  promotion  of 
the  happiness  of  others. 

THE  unembellished,  though  frank  and  high-toned 
sentiments   with  which   the  now   English-American 


- 


60  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

citizen,  expressed  himself  to  his  regained  three 
friends,  occasioned,  for  a  time,  that  kind  of  silence 
involving  thought,  intermixed  with  pleasing,  as  well 
as  sad  reflection,  all  of  which  was  broken  by  the  Col- 
onel, as  follows : 

"  We  have  all  listened,  Mr.  Withrow,  with  much 
pleasure,  to  the  laconic  history  you  have  thought  fit 
to  give  us  of  yourself.  In  the  latter  part  of  it  there 
has  occurred  an  act  of  such  unrivalled  friendship, 
extended  towards  me,  as  to  make  nothing  in  my 
power  too  good  or  too  valuable  withheld  from  you. 
You  are  a  stranger  in  our  land,  known  by  but  few, 
and  those  few  are  the  three  now  before  you.  As  a 
stranger,  therefore,  amongst  us,  it  becomes  me  to  be 
foremost  in  showing  to  you  that  hospitality  and  friend- 
ship, which  though  it  may  fall  short  of  reward  for,  may 
in  some  measure  convince  you,  of  the  high  regard 
I  have  for  the  preserver  of  my  life  and  liberty.  You 
have  abandoned  your  own,  and  have  become  a  citizen 
of  our  country.  The  motives  you  had  for  leaving 
England,  it  is  not  my  intention  to  inquire  into,  nor 
my  province  to  know,  unless  voluntarily  communi- 
cated to  me  by  you.  Believe  me,  then,  from  what  I 
have  just  said,  to  be  sincere  in  my  professions  of 
friendship  ;  and  in  testimony  of  it,  permit  me  to  offer 
you,  by  way  of  present,  a  small  start  in  the  land  of 
your  new  home  ;  the  acceptance  of  one,  and  either  of 
my  offers  will  have  a  tendency  to  give  you  a  comfort- 
able subsistence." 

"  To  what  do  you  allude  ?"  inquired  "Withrow,  in- 
terrupting him. 

"  To  a  permanancy  for  life,  and  your  children  after 
you,"  replied  Leftridge. 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  61 

"  What !  sir,  to  settle  an  estate  upon  me  ?" 

"  Listen  to  me  until  I  shall  have  finished  my  pro- 
posals, and  then  give  me  your  reply." 

"  You  will  please  excuse  me  for  the  interruption," 
said  Withrow,  "  and  rely  upon  my  silent  attention  for 
the  future." 

"  I  have,"  resumed  Leftridge,  "  a  landed  estate  in 
the  South,  and  upon  one  of  my  farms  was  the  head 
quarters  of  your  late  commander-in-chief,  Lord  Corn- 
wallis.  In  the  city  of  Charleston  I  own  a  square  of 
ground ;  all  of  which,  nearly,  is  built  upon  in  Market 
Street.  I  own,  in  addition  to  that,  a  large  portion  of 
the  wharf,  and  the  buildings  upon  it.  Should  you 
think  proper  to  do  so,  and  will  go  into  Charleston  and 
commence  business,  I  will  advance  you  a  capital  of 
three  thousand  pounds,  with  a  lot,  and  house  well 
furnished  to  live  in  ;  or  if  it  should  suit  your  taste  and 
inclination  better  to  go  at  farming,  take  the  property 
of  which  I  have  just  now  spoken;  it  is  yours,  and  all 
that  is  necessary  for  you  to  do,  in  order  to  possess  it, 
is  to  accept  this  deed,  which  I  have  had  made  out, 
preparatory  to  your  looked  for  visit  to  me  on  the 
present  occasion.  My  offers,  continued  he,  are  now 
before  you." 

"  Am  I,  then  sir,"  said  Withrow,  "  in  the  presence 
of  the  owner  of  that  farm  upon  which  you  were  con- 
fined?" 

"  You  are,"  replied  the  Colonel,  "  and  had  I  been 
known  there  as  such,  would  doubtless  have  been  much 
more  severely  treated  than  I  was  ;  for  Cornwallis  him- 
self, would  have  had  the  disposal  of  my  execution 
upon  the  gibbet ;  followed  by  having  me  quartered. 
He  knew  the  strength  of  my  arm  and  the  terror  of  my 


62  THE    HEIKE3SE3   OF   FOTHEEIXGAY. 

sword,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  timely  arrival  of 
Tarleton  and  his  troop,  he  would,  at  least,  on  a  former 
occasion,  have  been  in  my  keeping  as  a  prisoner  of 
war.  He  has,  however,  fallen,  and  his  surrender  to 
our  chieftain  has  buried  all  animosity  ;  and  were  I  to 
see  him  to-day,  should  give  him  as  cordial  a  shake  of 
the  hand  as  if  no  hatred  had  ever  existed  between 
us." 

"  "Were  the  ladies,"  said  Withrow,  "  found  on  this 
farm,  and  who  were  unable  to  make  their  escape, 
before  our  army  took  possession  of  it,  relatives  of 
yours  ?" 

"  They  were,"  replied  the  Colonel. 

"  In  what  degrees  ?"  resumed  Withrow. 

"  My  mother,  my  widowed  sister,  and  her  daughter, 
about  sixteen,"  answered  Leftridge. 

"Is  it  Miss  Rayford  to  whom  you  have  reference?" 

"  The  same." 

"  She,  sir,"  resumed  Withrow,  "  is  a  charming 
girl,  and  the  prototype  of  her  refined  and  ladylike 
ancestry.  And  let  me  here  tell  you,"  continued  he, 
"that  I  have  had  the  additonal  pleasure  of  seeing 
others  beside  yourself  of  your  family." 

"  Then  you  have  seen  my  mother,  my  sister,  and 
my  niece  ?" 

"  I  have,  sir,  had  that  pleasure,  as  well  as  honor," 
replied  Withrow. 

"  By  what  means  did  that  take  place  ?"  inquired 
the  colonel. 

"JFhat  of  being  stationed  at  the  head  of  a  file  of 
men,  and  stationed  at  your  mother's  door,  where  I 
had  the  honor  to  keep  at  a  distance  from  them  many 
an  insolent  and  cowardly  Tory." 


THE    HEIEESSE3   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  63 

"  Had  you  any  conversation  with  them  while  on 
duty  there  ?" 

"  Only  as  their  orderly,  sir,"  replied  Withrow. 
"  And  now,"  continued  he,  the  reason  and  mystery 
attached  to  it  is  clearly  developed,  which  I  then 
could  not  solve,  of  why  the  ladies  were  so  often 
sombre,  and  so  much  concerned  at  the  capture  of,  as 
they  termed  him,  '  the  Partisan  Colonel.'  I  had  often 
to  carry  7nessages,  and  frequently  written  ones,  from 
your  family  to  the  commander-iii-chief,  all  of  which 
were  received  from  your  sister,  or  from  her  (excuse 
the  expression  from  me,)  her  lovely  daughter,  but 
none  from  your  mother.  All  on  the  subject,  from 
time  to  time,  of  their  comfort  whilst  prisoners.  The 
cause  of  their  sorrow  and  dismay  I  should  like  to 
have  known,  but  to  have  been  inquisitive  would  have 
been  beyond  my  province.  I  am  now  in  possession 
of  the  cause  of  their  concern,  and  am,  happily,  well 
acquainted  with  the,  then  as  well  as  now,  gallant 
subject  of  it,  in  the  person  of  the  '  Partisan  Colonel.' 
And  here,  too,"  continued  Withrow,  "I  am,  sir, 
reminded  of  a  singular  trait  in  your  mother's  charac- 
ter, and  of  which  I  have  remained  in  entire  ignorance 
with  regard  to  its  true  meaning  till  now.  It  was  that 
of  putting  her  forefinger  perpendicularly  across  her 
lips  upon  being  spoken  to  by  strangers." 

"  That  signal  was  to  her,  as  well  as  it  has  been  to 
me,"  replied  the  Colonel,  "  one  of  rntteh  utility,  but 
which,  when  I  shall  have  introduced  you  to,  and  you 
shall  have  again  been  in  her  presence,  will  no  longer 
be  a  necessary  precaution  with  her,  so  far  as  you,  and 
such  friends  as  you  are,  are  concerned." 

"  You  honor  me,  Colonel,"  replied  Withrow. 


64  THE    HEIKESSES   OF    FOTHERIXGAY. 

"  No  more  so  tlian  you  deserve,  and  richly  merit," 
was  the  reply. 

"  I  can  only  thank  you  for  another  mark  of  your 
regard.  And  here  permit  me,  sir,"  continued  With- 
row,  seeming  somewhat  confused,  "  to  ask  where  is 
your  family  now  ?" 

"  On  their  way  to  my  Fotheringay  Estate  in  the 
mountains  of  Viginia,"  replied  Leftridge. 

"  Is  Miss  Kayford,  your  mother,  and  sister, 
well?" 

"They  were  at  the  date  of  the  last  letter  from 
them." 

"And  your  father — where  is  he,  sir?" 

"In  Heaven,  I  hope,"  said  Leftridge.  "After 
leaving  the  army,  and  bidding  adieu  to  his  brother 
partisans  in  the  South,  he,  accompanied  by  the 
family,  were  on  their  way  to  Fotheringay,  but  before 
reaching  it  he  died. 

"The  will  of  Almighty  God,"  replied  Withrow, 
"  is  certainly  wise  and  just,  as  it  is  mysterious  to 
man.  Yet  it  seems  hard  that  he  should  not  have 
been  allowed  to  meet,  here,  with  the  rewards  due  in 
common  to  him  and  others  of  his  brave  countrymen, 
for  a  while,  at  least,  after  their  noble  struggles." 

Here  the  dinner  hour  was  announced,  and  our  four 
friends  repaired  to  the  dining-room.  After  they  had 
dined,  and  returned  to  their  apartment,  the  conversa- 
tion turned  upon  that  of  a  preparatory  for  and  de- 
parture of  the  two  officers,  to  wind  in  their  turn  also, 
the  weary  way  toward  their  respective  homes. 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  press  it  upon  you,"  said  the 
Colonel,  addressing  Withrow;  "and  I  hope  you  will 
excuse  me  for  again  adverting  to  the  proposition  I 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  65 

made  you  this  morning,  to  which  I  have  not  as  yet 
had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  your  reply.  For  I  know," 
continued- he,  "that  it  is  the  intention  of  Major  Lau- 
rence to  make  proposals  of  a  similar  nature  to  our 
much  valued  and  tried  friend,  Mr.  Hyne." 

For  some  time  Withrow  seemed  absorbed  in 
thought,  with  his  head  a  little  inclined  forward,  and 
his  fine  and  expressive  blue  eyes  intently  fixed  upon 
the  floor;  he  appeared  to  have  forgotten  that  any  one 
was  near  him.  Then,  bringing  his  body  to  an  erect 
position  upon  his  chair,  his  whole  deportment  wearing 
an  easy,  graceful,  and  dignified  appearance,  with  his 
watch  in  his  hand,  he  said  :  "  This  article,  Colonel,  was 
presented  to  me  by  you,  at  a  time  when  I  possessed, 
as  I  believe  I  do  now,  one  of  the  highest  places  in 
your  recollection,  as  a  true,  and,  believe  me,  as  far  as 
my  services  are  concerned,  unchanged  friend.  As 
long  as  I  live,  it  will  remain  with  me,  as  a  memento, 
small  in  size,  but  great  in  value,  of  one  upon  whose 
life  and  liberty  I  placed  a  higher  value  than  I  did 
upon  my  own ;  but  from  what  unforeseen  cause,  I  was 
not  then,  nor  am  I  able  now  to  solve.  A  mysterious 
Providence  may  one  day,  sir,  make  my  services  to 
you  an  advantage  to  me :  but  as  it  now  is — the  pledge 
of  our  friendship,  at  present,  in  this  hand,"  (extending 
it  as  he  spoke,)  "  is  all  I  can  accept  of.  Your  kind 
offers  are  certainly  flattering  to  me  in  an  eminent  de- 
gree, and  are  highly  calculated,  were  I  so  disposed  as 
to  accept  of  them,  to  lay  a  solid  basis  for  the  procure- 
ment of  wealth  and  ease  for  me  and  mine,  as  you 
have  been  pleased  to  express  it.  Let  me  assure  you, 
that  I  have  never  entertained  a  wish  to  be  rich ;  but 
that  I  should  like  to  have  a  competency  during  life,  I 

5 


66  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

stall  not  pretend  to  deny.  For  my  own  part,"  he 
continued,  "  I  have  no  other  thought  now,  but  to  re- 
main single  during  the  remainder  of  my  greatly 
variegated  and  checkered  life;  thus  far,  more  freely 
spent  in  the  service  of  others  than  in  that  of  my  own. 
And  all  I  may  probably  ask  at  your  hands,  is — that 
should  I  ever  become  destitute,  and  in  want  of  the 
ordinary  requisites  of  life,  you  will  then  lend  an  as- 
sisting one  to  him  who  has,  at  the  peril  of  his  own, 
saved  your  life,  and  of  which  he  will  ever  be  pleas- 
antly reminded  when  seeing  this  watch." 

Leftridge  expressed,  as  he  felt,  much  regret  at  the 
refusal  of  the  offers  made  his  friend,  and  after  having 
attempted  a  second  time,  but  in  vain,  to  get  an  accep- 
tance to  his  proposals,  said — 

"  Withrow,  your  fixed  purpose  astonishes  me ;  and 
the  calm  indifference  with  which  you  speak  of  and 
look  upon  everything  like  that  of  wealth,  argues  a 
degree  of  eccentricity  rarely  seen,  and  but  little 
known.  That  I  feel  myself  bound  by  every  tie  of 
honor  as  well  as  that  of  gratitude,  to  contribute  at  all 
times  to  your  wants  and  necessities,  and,  in  short,  to 
make  your  necessities  my  own,  is  what  I  shall  ever 
feel  proud  of  the  permission  to  do.  And  now,  permit 
me  to  add,  that  there  are  two  things  which  I  hope 
you  will  not  deny  me,  by  way  of  a  request  and  grati- 
fication to  my  feelings." 

"What  are  they,  Colonel?"  said  Withrow. 

."First  that  you  will  allow  me  the  pleasure  of  hav- 
ing a  suitable  engraving  put  upon  the  back  of  your 
watch,  relative  to  your  gallant  behavior  and  disinter- 
ested friendship  to  me.  And  secondly,  that  you  will 
go  hence  with  me  and  make  my  house  your  home 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEKINGAY.  67 

until  you  will  have  settled  upon  your  future  course  in 
America,"  replied  Leftridge. 

"Your  first  request,  sir,"  resumed  "Withrow,  "I 
shall  unhesitatingly  comply  with.  And  upon  the 
second  one,  as  you  will  not  start  yet  for  two  days  at 
least,  I  must  ask  a  few  hours  to  reflect  upon." 

At  this  he  handed  to  the  colonel  his  watch,  and 
addressing  Hyne,  said,  "  It  is  now  time  that  I  should 
return  to  my  lodging,  will  you  do  me  the  favor  to 
accompany  me?" 

"You  do  not  intend  remaining  there ?"  said  Lau- 
rence. 

"No,  Major,  not  longer  than  to  settle  my  bill,  after 
which  we  will  return  here." 

"  It  is  sometimes  not  convenient,"  said  Leftridge, 
smiling,  "  for  soldiers  to  pay  their  bills." 

"  True,"  replied  Withrow,  "  but  I  have  the  pleasure 
to  say,  that  on  the  present  occasion,  it  is  not  the  case 
with  me,  as  his  Majesty's  paymaster,  at  the  time  I  ob- 
tained my  discharge,  took  my  receipt,  on  account  of 
back  pay  due  me,  for  three  hundred  pounds,  paid  in 
gold."  Thus  saying,  the  two  soldiers  took  their  hats 
and  left  the  room. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Ingenuousness  of  heart  is  the  talisman  of  all  excellence  of  soul. 

"  THE  proud  and  independent  spirit  which  animates 
the  bosorn  of  that  man,"  said  Leftridge,  as  Withrow 
half  closed  and  left  the  door,  "  binds  me  from  some 


68  THE    HEIRESSES    OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

unknown  and  strange  infatuation  still  closer  to  him ; 
and  impels  an  unaccounted  for  inclination  within  me 
to  watch  over  his  future  destiny  in  this  country. 
Every  gesture  and  every  word  he  articulates  pro- 
nounces him  to  have  been  born  of  a  parentage  high- 
minded  and  noble  as  he  is  himself.  I  shall  insist 
upon  his  going  with  me,  and  shall  I  hope,  one  day  or 
another,  be  enabled  to  solve  the  mystery  that  now 
envelops  him.  Come,  Major,"  he  continued,  "  let  us 
go  in  search  of  an  engraver;  but  stop,  before  we  go  I 
wish  your  counsel.  What  inscription  do  you  think 
most  appropriate  to  be  put  upon  this  watch,  once 
mine,  but  now  the  property  of  the  most  eccentric  of 
the  eccentric,  and  still  clever  fellow  Withrow?" 

"  In  words  do  you  mean?"  asked  Laurence. 

"Yes." 

"  If  you  leave  it  to  my  dictation,"  continued  the 
major,  after  a  pause,  "  I  would  recommend  the  follow- 
ing sentence,  which  from  the  names  mentioned,  will 
adapt  itself  to  all  the  persons  engaged  in  your  rescue 
on  the  occasion  of  which  it  will  speak." 

"What  is  it?" 

"  Wait  a  moment  and  you  shall  see,"  replied  the 
major,  as  he  had  seated  himself  and  was  in  the  act  of 
writing  at  the  table.  " It  is  this: 

"  Presented  to  James  Withrow,  Esq.,  as  a  token  of 
respect  for  his  gallant  and  disinterested  friendship,  in 
aiding  and  assisting  Major  William  Laurence  and 
Sergeant  Samuel  Hyne  in  their  rescue  of  Colonel 
George  Leftridge,  at  the  battle  of  Guilford  Court 
House,  South  Carolina,  May  the  8th,  1781." 

"  How  do  you  like  it  ?"  said  Laurence,  as  he  finished 
reading. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  69 

"  Well,"  replied  Leftridge. 

"  Does  it  agree  with  your  taste  ?"  continued  Lau- 
rence. 

"Much,  indeed,"  was  the  reply.  "  And  now,"  con- 
tinued the  colonel,  "  let  us  go." 

They  had  not  proceeded  far  in  their  search,  before 
they  had  arrived  at  the  shop  of  an  engraver,  and  after 
having  had  an  understanding  with  him,  upon  the  price 
for  which  the  work  was  to  be  done,  and  the  time  at 
which  they  were  to  call  for  it,  they  left  the  watch  and 
the  slip  of  paper  containing  the  sentence,  and  passed 
on  to  the  post-office. 

^  From  the  date  of  my  letter  to  my  mother,  it  is  now 
time  for  me  to  receive  a  letter  from  some  one  or  more 
of  them  at  home — particularly  as  I  wish  to  purchase 
a  few  articles  by  way  of  presents  to  Julia,  before  I 
leave  the  city,"  said  Leftridge. 

As  he  expected,  he  received  two  letters,  one  from 
his  mother,  and  the  other  from  his  niece.  It  was  then 
sunset,  and  just  as  they  had  arrived  at  the  hotel,  they 
were  met  by  Withrow  and  Hyne. 

In  a  few  moments  the  four  friends  were  in  their 
apartment,  but  had  scarcely  reached  their  seats  before 
the  signal  for  supper  was  heard. 

"  Well,  gentlemen,"  said  Leftridge,  after  they  had 
returned  to  their  room,  "  while  you  are  engaged  talk- 
ing upon  the  events  of  the  past  day,  I  shall  read  my 
letters. 

Thus  saying,  he  seated  himself  by  a  table,  and  draw- 
ing a  lighted  candle,  which  had  been  placed  upon  it, 
close  to  him,  he  was  for  some  time  intent  upon  read- 
ing a  lengthy  and  closely  written  letter. 

After  he  had  read  the  first  one,  he  was  heard  to  say 


70  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

to  himself,  "  All  is  as  it  should  be ;  my  mother  is  cor- 
rect in  her  opinions  upon  it,  and  her  son  will  ever 
sustain  her  in  them."  Then  folding  and  laying  that 
letter  down,  he  took  up  the  next  one,  and  carefully 
breaking  its  seal,  was  soon  intently  engaged  in  its 
perusal. 

Within  the  time  occupied  by  Leftridge,  in  attending 
to  his  letters,  Laurence  had  made  proposals  to  Hyne, 
in  offering  a  copartnership  to  him  in  a  mercantile  esta- 
blishment, which  he  proposed  opening  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  as  soon  as  the  then  unsettled  condition  of 
commerce  could  be  placed  upon  an  amicable  b 
between  England  and  the  United  States. 

"I  am,  sir,"  said  Hyne,  "destitute,  and  have  but 
one  species  of  capital  left,  at  my  command,  to  unite 
with  yours ;  and  that  is — that  of  an  honest  integrity, 
and  an  untiring  exertion,  on  my  part,  to  facilitate  and 
carry  out  to  your  approval,  your  friendly  proposition 
and  kind  offers  to  me ;  all  of  which,  shall  be  as  thank- 
fully, as  it  will  be  devotedly,  attached  to  your  pecu- 
niary capital." 

"  Your  acceptance  of  my  proposal,  Mr.  Hyne,  is  all 
that  I  desire,  and  for  the  balance  leave  that  to  my 
management,"  said  Laurence. 

"  I  accept,  and  am  at  your  service,"  was  the  answer. 

"You  will,  then,"  continued  Laurence,  "  be  in  readi- 
ness to  leave  here  day  after  to-morrow,  and  accompany 
me  to  my  future  home,  in  the  city  of  New  York." 

"Certainly,  sir,"  returned  Hyne,  "and  as  the  society 
of  my  good  Colonel,  and  my  no  less  esteemed  Major, 
with  that  of  my  true  friend,  "Withrow,  is  too  valuable 
to  lose  for  the  short  time  we  shall  be  together,  by  my 
proposed  absence,  no  other  quarters  shall  be  sought 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERIXGAY.  71 

for,  than  those  furnished  in  the  hotel  while  they  remain 
here.  I  shall,  therefore,  keep  my  knapsack  packed — 
think  myself  under  the  Major's  orders,  and  hold  my- 
self in  readiness  to  strike  my  tent,  and  when  the  word 
is  given — march." 

"  You  have  still  a  reminiscence  of  army  discipline 
about  you,"  said  Laurence,  smiling. 

"  Soldiers,  sir,  are  not  very  apt  to  forget  those 
matters  in  which  they  have  been  so  long  drilled,  par- 
ticularly when  in  presence  of  one  whom  they  respect 
and  esteem ;  and  when  they  shall  have  seen  the 
change  of  position  from  that  of  command  to  that  of 
ow-citizen  and  friend,  as  you  manifest  yourself  to 
me,  on  the  present  occasion,"  replied  Hyne. 

"  I  thank  you,  my  dear  sir,  and  in  future  the  true 
practice  of  a  sincere  friend  to  you,  shall  take  the  place 
of  all  former  command  I  have  had  over  you.  Par- 
ticularly," continued  the  Major,  "  when  I  see  men  of 
such  intrinsic  worth  as  that  of  which  you  are  possessed, 
leaving  the  army  of  their  country,  without  pay,  and 
without  a  murmur.  And  here  (handing  him  ten 
eagles)  take  this  as  an  earnest  of  my  intentions." 

At  this  unexpected  good  fortune,  Hyne  was  as  much 
astonished  as*  he  was  grateful,  and  immediately  ad- 
dressing himself  to  Withrow,  who  had  been  engaged 
in  reading  during  the  conversation  between  the  Major 
and  him,  observed,  "  An  honest  man  is  said  to  be  the 
noblest  work  of  God.  To  be  an  humble  member  of 
that  class  of  my  fellow  men,  has  been,  as  it  shall  con- 
tinue to  be,  the  grand  aim  of  my  life."  So  saying,  he 
laid  upon  the  table  the  amount  which  his  friend 
had  advanced  him. 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?"  said  Withrow. 


72  THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY. 

"  What  it  is  intended  for ;  the  payment  of  my  just 
debt,  with  my  sincere  thanks  for  your  kindness,"  re- 
plied Hyne. 

"  So  far  as  your  thanks  are  concerned,"  said  With- 
row,  "  if  it  is  any  satifaction  to  you,  I  will  receive 
them  ;  but  with  regard  to  the  sum  advanced  you  by 
me — it  is  yours — and  the  most  signal  favor  you  can  in 
future  bestow  upon  me  for  it,  is,  that  you  will  never 
mention  its  repayment  again.  And,"  he  continued, 
"since  you  have  quoted  Pope  to  illustrate  more 
forcibly  your  ideas  of  correctness,  allow  me  also  to 
do  the  same,  in  carrying  out  my  purpose,  in  humbly 
imploring  Almighty  God  to 

"  Teach  me  to  feel  another's  woe  ; 
To  hide  the  fault  I  see  ; 
That  mercy  I,  to  others  show, 
That  mercy  show  to  me." 

Here  Leftridge,  who  had  been  too  busily  engaged  in 
reading  family  affairs,  by  way  of  letter,  to  attend  much 
to  what  had  passed  between  his  friends,  called  their 
attention  to  one  paragraph  contained  in  the  letter  of  his 
niece  to  him,  and  which  he  read  to  them  as  follows  : 

"  I  cannot  but  remember  distinctly,  the  well-known 
as  well  as  expressive  features  of  that  philanthropic 
man — the  English  soldier,  who  stood  as  '  Orderly'  at 
our  door.  And  from  the  subsequent  events,  in  which 
he  has  acted  so  conspicuous  a  part,  I  am  impressed 
with  the  opinion,  and  which,  I  must  confess,  is  more 
agreeable  than  otherwise,  to  me,  that  he  is  the  de- 
scendant of  some  family  of  high  respectability  in  his 
own  country.  I  would  that  his  condition  in  life  were 
a  better  one,  and  though  I  am  not,  as  I  know  of,  a 
predestinarian,  I  cannot  divest  my  mind  of  the  impres- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  73 

sion,  indelibl y  fixed  upon  it,  that  he  was  a  means  sent, 
under  the  supervision  of  the  All-wise  Disposer  of 
human  events,  as  a  protector  to  us,  as  well  as  that, 
of  the  savior  of  your  life." 

A  crimson  glow,  always  the  attendant  of  sudden  and 
unexpected  praise  to  the  virtuous  mind,  had  already 
mantled  the  cheek  of  "Withrow,  as  he  sat  for  a  moment 
confused  and  not  knowing  what  reply  he  should  make 
in  answer  to  what  he  had  just  heard.  tnn 

The  two  officers,  as  well  as  Hyne,  discovering  his 
confusion,  Laurence  quickly  observed,  "  Come,  Mr. 
Withrow,  you  are  not  now  in  the  presence,  nor  under 
the  idea  of  being  so,  of  an  enemy  armed  with  muskets. 
But  it  seems  as  if  you  were  in  doubt  upon  what  course 
you  will  pursue,  in  order  to  vanquish,  though  it  be 
for  a  short  time  only,  the  inroads  making  upon  your 
breast-works,  by  that  celebrated  warrior — Cupid. 

"  I  thank  you,  Major,  for  the  timely  relief  afforded 
me.  under  your  command,"  replied  Withrow.  "  And 
now,  sir,  addressing  the  Colonel,  as  the  representative 
of  Miss  Eayford,  I  beg  you  to  receive  my  most  cordial 
thanks  for  the  honor  she  has  conferred  upon  me  in  re- 
membering the  British  soldier  with  kindness,  and  that 
growing  out  of  events  connected  with  his  duty,  which 
sir,  whenever  ladies  are  concerned,  shall  ever  be  per- 
formed by  me,  with  strict  intent  to  please. 

"  It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  do  so,"  replied  the 
Colonel,  "  as  you  will,  I  hope,  shortly  see  her  your- 
self. In  that  event,  you  can  better  express  your  feel- 
ings on  the  subject  of  her  eulogy  upon  your  kindness 
to  us,  than  I  can." 

The  remainder  of  the  night,  till  long  after  twelve 
o'clock,  passed  in  a  general  conversation  between  our 


74  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY, 

friends  upon  the  different  scenes  of  life  they  had  wit- 
nessed, and  upon  their  plans  and  views  relative  to  the 
future.  In  the  course  of  conversation,  an  allusion  was 
made  by  Leftridge  to  the  night  of  his  escape,  in  reply 
to  which  his  three  friends  were  interestingly  commu- 
nicative. 

Here  Laurence  took  occasion  to  ask  With  row  to 
explain  the  reason  of  his  soliloquies,  and  that  of  his 
being  longer  on  guard  than  usual,  the  night  previous 
to  the  one  in  which  the  Colonel  was  set  at  liberty. 

"  I  shall  do  so  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure,  gentle- 
men, and  shall  endeavor  to  make  my  recital  of  the 
circumstances  attending  the  two  events,  as  interesting 
to  you.  as  your  remarks  upon  different  subjects  might 
have  been  pleasing  to  me,"  replied  Withrow. 

Then  commencing,  he  said : 

"The  night  previous  to  the  battle  of  Guilf>rd,  our 
army,  some  distance  from  the  scene  of  action,  and  not 
being  detailed  for  any  service,  I  was  in  my  tent,  and 
had  gone  to  bed,  long  before  tatoo.  I  could  not  sleep 
vsoundly,  and  that  portion  of  it  which  was  allowed  me, 
was  greatly  interrupted  by  the  appearance  of  appari- 
tions. All  seemed  to  have  left  me  but  one,  and  when 
I  would  alternately  awake  and  fall  asleep,  again  the 
same  form  presented  itself.  I  thought  it  to  be  a  lady, 
apparelled  in  rich  costume,  bearing  a  wreath  of  snow- 
white  flowers  in  one,  and  an  elegantly  worked  Ame- 
rican flag  in  the  other  hand.  From  the  right 
shoulder,  extending  across  to  her  left  side,  was  very 
gracefully  suspended  an  elegantly  variegated  sash,  of 
a  red,  white  and  blue  color,  the  white  parts  of  which 
were  interspersed  with  a  superior  order  of  jet. 
•  "  After  repeated  attempts  to  get  within  speaking  dis- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  75 

tance  of  me,  she  at  last  succeeded,  and  making  imme- 
diate use  of  the  position  gained,  said,  '  You  behold  in 
me  one,  destined  to  watch  over  the  fate  of  that  coun- 
try, against  which  you  are  now  an  armed  foe ;  you  are 
not  so  in  heart,  but,  from  the  force  of  circumstances ; 
consequently,  I  have  ventured  to  approach  you.  A 
battle  is  near  at  hand,  in  which  the  supernatural 
power,  before  whom  I  am  but  an  agent,  has  decreed 
you  as  set  apart  to  aid  and  assist  one  of  your  fellow- 
mortals — though  an  enejny,  to  make  his  escape  from 
impending  death.  You  shall  have  judgment  to  con- 
ceive, wisdom  to  devise,  and  power  to  execute  that 
event.  Such  were  the  strange  and  unaccounted-for 
impressions  with  which  the  little  sleep  I  got  was  ac- 
companied ;  and  at  reveille  I  arose,  not  refreshed,  but 
languid  and  full  of  reflection,  upon  the  singular  vision 
I  had  had.  I  had  began  to  think  it  but  a  vision, 
Colonel,  until  I  beheld  you,  and  the  indignant  feel- 
ings the  scene  created,  produced  the  thought  that  you 
may  have  been  the  '  fellow  mortal,'  referred  to  in  my 
visionary  lady.  And  how  far  her  predictions  may  be 
construed,  as  having  reference  to  you,  subsequent 
realities  have  enabled  you  to  determine.  I  had  settled 
upon  your  release,  and  for  that  purpose  had  left  my 
mess,  and  had  taken  my  board  with  the  man  and 
woman  in  the  hut,  both  of  whom  understood  me.  My 
plan  was  to  have  an  interview  with  you  in  the  best 
way  I  could,  and  to  bring  3-011  to  that  place  from 
whence  yon,  and  them  passing  as  a  poor  tory  family, 
were  to  set  out  for  the  American  army.  Nothing 
however  seemed  to  forward  my  scheme,  and  in  a  mo- 
ment of  desponding  hope,  an  English  soldier  and  his 
wife,  to  whom  I  was  under  some  obligations,  came  to 


76  THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERLN'GAY. 

solicit  the  favor  of  me,  that  I  would  stand  his  tour 
that  night  as  well  as  my  own,  as  they  wished  to  go  to 
the  battle-field  in  search  of  a  wounded  brother.  I 
could  not  refuse,  and  was  accordingly  placed  on  guard 
at  the  spot,  where  you,  Major,  and  Mr.  Hyne,  first  be- 
held me ;  and  where  the  variety  of  matter  then  occu- 
pying my  mind  caused,  what  you  have  been  pleased 
to  term,  my  soliloquies.  To  which  perhaps  may  be, 
correctly  attributed,  my  just  finished  and  brief  ex- 
planation of  them." 

"  The  nocturnal  movements  of  those  times  seem  to 
have  been  full  of  surprise  and  uncertainty  to  all  of 
us,"  said  Laurence.  "  For  the  visit  of  the  soldier  and 
his  detachment  to  the  battle-field,  had  like  to  have 
been  the  cause  of  our  capture,  as  we  were  within  a 
few  steps  of  them  when  the  object  of  their  search  was 
discovered.  What  became  of  him  ?  What  of  the 
Colonel's  intended  escort  ?  as  well  as  of  our  landlord 
and  lady  of  the  hut  ?  and  what,  do  tell  us,  became  of 
the  Colonel's  substitute  for  the  gallows  ?  All  these 
must  be  familiar  subjects  to  you,  and  of  which  you 
can  now  speak  unreservedly." 

"To  the  man  and  his  wife  of  the  hut,  I  gave  all  the 
cash  and  some  few  valuables  I  had  about  my  person, 
when  our  army  left  their  neighborhood.  The  English 
soldier  recovered  of  his  wound,  and  has  returned  with 
the  army  to  England.  With  regard  to  the  Colonel's 
substitute,  much  was  said,  and  many  conjectures 
formed  upon,  through  what  means  so  great  a  cheat 
and  entire  defeat  of  their  purpose,  was  so  unalterably 
fixed  upon  Tories.  No  certainty  could  be  arrived  at 
about  it.  The  English  soldier  who  had  taken  the 
canteen  of  water  and  bread  and  meat  to  you,  Colonel 


THE   HEIRESSES    OF    FOTHERINGAY.  77 

was  strictly  inquired  after,  but  was  nowhere  to  be 
found.  I  had  guarded  against  that ;  for  when  I  got 
permission  to  do  so  I  was  in  disguise,  which  dress  was 
immediately  after  destroyed.  And  had  my  three 
friends  now  present  seen  me,  on  that  occasion,  going 
about  from  place  to  place,  throughout  the  camp,  with 
my  fellow-soldiers  trying  to  discover  the  traitor,  and 
thereby  get  the  reward  of  one  hundred  pounds,  you 
would  have  been  as  much  amused  as  I  was  to  myself, 
at  the  credulity  I  was  playing  off  upon  them,  as  well 
as  upon  the  enraged  Tory  faction." 

As  early  the  next  morning',  as  the  routine  of  that 
kind  of  bustle  usual  upon  a  breakfast-hour  at  a 
tavern  would  admit  of,  Leftridge  repaired  to  the  shop 
of  the  engraver,  with  whom  he  had  left  the  watch 
and  the  inscription  the  day  before.  Finding  it  com- 
pleted, as  directed,  he  paid  for  it,  and  then  returned 
to  the  hotel.  When  he  entered  their  apartment,  he 
found  his  three  friends  engaged,  each  reading  the 
news  of  the  morning,  from  papers  which  had  just 
before  been  brought  to  the  room. 

"  Well,  gentlemen,"  said  the  Colonel,  as  he  entered 
the  apartment,  "  you  all  seem  busily  engaged ;  pray, 
tell  me  what  news  there  is  this  morning." 

"For  my  part,"  replied  Withrow,  "I  augur  the 
final  blow  struck  at,  and  an  entire  overthrow  of  all 
power  on  the  part  of  the  British  government  over 
that  of  your  country,  consequent  upon  the  surrender 
of  Cornwallis — an,  event  as  unforeseen  by  him  as  it 
was  unexpected  by  his  sovereign.  And,  so  far  as  the 
war  itself  was  concerned,  it  had  long  since  become  an 
unpopular  measure  among  the  people  of  England. 
Your  august  chieftain,"  he  continued,  "  aided  by  the 


78  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEBINGAY. 

no  less  celebrated  republican,  Lafayette,  with.  Eo- 
chambeau  and  De  Grasse,  has,  however,  achieved  the 
groundwork  material  of  one  of  the  greatest  republics 
in  the  world ;  and,  if  continued  to  be  strengthened  by 
the  united  actions  of  the  respective  states,  will  so 
effectually  establish  your  independence,  as  never  again 
to  make  you  fearful  of  the  power  of  English  tyranny." 

"I  hope,"  replied  Leftridge,  "that  all,  all  will  be  as 
it  should.  And  now,  sir,  allow  me  to  advert  again  to 
the  final  accomplishment  of  the  treaty  of  friendship 
between  yourself  and  me.  I  allude  to  my  request, 
that  you  go  and  reside  "with  me  in  Virginia,  till  you 
have  settled  on  other  views  relative  to  yourself. 
Upon  this  subject  you  deferred  an  answer  a  day  or 
two  since;  and  as  I  am  now  upon  the  eve  of  depart- 
ure for  my  home,  will  be  most  happy  that  you  will 
not  only  speak  now  on  this  subject,  but  that  you  will 
also  determine  to  go  with  me,  and  make  my  house 
your  future  home ;  where  my  mother,  my  sister,  and 
my  niece,  as  well  as  myself,  will  endeavor  to  make 
your  time  agreeable  and  yourself  happy." 

"I  am,  Colonel,"  replied  Withrow,  "  more  than  ob- 
liged to  you  for  the  reference  you  again  make  to  your 
kind  wish  and  intentions  towards  me.  The  bare  men- 
tion of  them  is  sufficient  for  me  to  know  that  you 
mean  what  you  say ;  and  why  I  should  at  all  hesitate 
in  the  acceptance  of  your  offer  may,  doubtless,  seem 
in  your  estimation  a  strange  feature  of  singularity  in 
me.  The  truth  is,  sir,  that  I  have  ever  entertained  the 
greatest  degree  of  repugnant  feelings  at  the  idea  of 
being  a  dependent  upon  any  one,  however  strong  my 
claims  may  be  upon  them.  And  as  for  those  you 
may,  doubtless,  think  I  have  upon  you,  I  again  re- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  79 

peat  it,  that  in  saving  your  life  I  was  only  in  the 
performance  of  my  duty  in  endeavoring  to  '  Do  unto 
all  as  I  would  wish  all  should  do  unto  me.'  You  can- 
not, sir,"  he  continued,  "require  a  stronger  proof  of 
my  friendship  and  esteem  for  you  than  that  which  the 
events  of  the  battle  of  Guilford  will  ever  forcibly  im- 
print upon  your  memory,  let  the  then  humble  soldier 
and  preserver  of  your  life  be  where  he  may. 

"For  the  continuance  and  preservation  of  my 
friendship  for  you,  I  here,  not  only  in  the  presence 
of  the  Great  Author  of  our  existence,  but  in  that 
also  of  your,  as  well  as  my  two  equal  friends, 
declare  it  on  my  part  unchangeable.  If,"  continued 
he,  "this  is  satisfactory,  our  treaty  is  ratified;  not 
ivritten,  as  treaties  generally  are,  upon  parchment 
or  paper,  but  indelibly  stamped  upon  the  seat 
of  life  of  both  of  us.  .And  here,"  said  he,  after  a 
moment's  pause,  "1  assent  to  your  proposal,  and  I 
shall  hold  myself  in  readiness  to  accompany  you  on 
your  journey  home  at  any  time  set  for  your  de- 
parture." 


CHAPTER   X, 

It  is  good  to  be  obedient,  because  it  insures  protection  from  the  Most 
High!     When  this  is  the  case  what  cun  harm  us? 

THE  consent  of  "Withrow  to  accompany  his  friend, 
seemed  to  reanimate  the  spirits  of  all,  and  particularly 
those  of  the  Colonel  himself,  who,  after  they  had 
dined  and  returned  to  their  apartments,  in  a  very 
pleasant  and  agreeable  humor,  observed, 


80  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"  Had  you,  my  dear  sir,  been  so  long  in  coming  to 
a  conclusion  of  how  to  act,  and  what  course  to  pursue 
on  the  day  I  was  taken  prisoner,  as  you  have  been  in 
the  acceptance  of  my  invitation  to  go  with  me  home, 
I  doubt  whether  I  should  ever  have  had  the  pleasure 
of  soliciting  you  to  do  so.  Or  that  of  presenting  you 
for  the  second  time  this,  mark  my  words,  talisman  of 
some,  as  yet  unknown  as  it  is,  future  good  to  you  or 
yours. 

"Here,"  he  continued,  and  handing  it  to  him,  "  is 
your  watch.  Upon  it  I  have  had  such  an  inscription 
placed  as  will,  I  hope,  be  congenial  to  the  feelings  of 
him  who  is  so  eminently  worthy  of  it." 

After  he  had  attentively  examined  the  inscription, 
Withrow  replied : 

"If,  Colonel,  I  am  eminently  worthy  of  wearing 
your  watch,  the  inscription  upon  it  makes  me  doubly 
so,  since  it  unites  me  with  others  (looking  intently  at 
Laurence  and  Hyne)  equally  praiseworthy  in  the 
part  they  performed  in  your  rescue,  as  is  he,  in  your 
estimation,  to  whom  it  is  on  the  present  occasion  pre- 
sented. And  here,"  said  he,  "  I  have  another  striking 
incident  by  way  of  fulfilment  of  the  strange  fatality 
which,  at  a  time  long  since  passed,  was  augured  of 
me.  Doubtless,"  continued  he,  "yourself,  as  well  as 
my  other  two  friends  here,  are  desirous  of  knowing 
more  of  the  British  soldier  than  I  have  thus  far  in- 
formed you  of.  At  a  period,  however,  more  appro- 
priate than  the  present  one,  and  when  perhaps  I  shall 
be  in  a  better  mood  to  do  so  than  now,  I  may  disclose 
events  relative  to  my  life  which,  at  present,  must  re- 
main a  mystery  to  you  and  a  secret  with  myself.  As 
regards  the  delay  in  my  conclusions  upon  your  kind 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  81 

offer,  it  was  occasioned  from  a  belief  with  me  that  the 
impetus  to  generous  actions  are  classed  under  two 
general  heads  only.  First,  to  be  prompt  and  decisive 
in  matters  where  life  and  liberty,  or  aid,  or  either  of 
them  are  concerned  ;  and  secondly,  to  reflect  well  be- 
fore we  impose  ourselves,  and  then  as  little  as  possible, 
upon  the  generosity  of  others.  This,  in  my  opinion, 
is  the  true  way  to  make  friends  and  the  only  way  to 
continue  them.  When  Death  was  at  a  short  space 
from  you,  I  took  immediate,  and  am  happy  in  say- 
ing, successful  steps  to  avert  the  blow,  and  now,  sir, 
since  you  are  safe  and  happy,  I  have  your  kind 
wishes,  while  I  am  one  of  the  adopted  citizens  of  your 
no  less  happy  and  liberated  country.  In  it  I  purpose 
residing,  where,  if  I  am  allowed  a  reasonable  portion 
of  success,  I  may  be,  at  least,  contented,  though  from 
a  force  of  circumstances  far  from  being  happy. 

"  Believe  me,  sir,"  he  continued,  "  that  I  had  thought 
the  acceptance  of  your  offer  would  be  to  render  my- 
self burdensome  to  you.  At  your  repeated  requests, 
however,  I  have  qualified  my  inclinations  by  yielding 
to  your  desire.  I  shall  go  with  my  friend,  whose 
home,  I  know,  will  be  mine  as  long  as  I  desire  it,  but 
how  long  that  may  be,  depends  solely  upon  an  entire 
unknown  future  to  determine." 

Preparations  for  departure  occupied  the  remainder 
of  the  day,  and  the  next  morning  our  four  friends  left 
Philadelphia — Laurence  and  Hyne  for  New  York, 
and  Leftridge  and  Withrow  for  Virginia. 

Upon  his  return  to  the  City  of  New  York,  Laurence 
fulfilled  an  engagement  he  had  been  under  for  some 
months,  in  that  of -his  marriage  to  the  younger 
daughter  of  one  of  his  associate  officers  in  service— • 


82  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

General  Lincoln — and  in  the  following  year  opened  a 
house  in  the  mercantile  business,  under  the  firm  of 
"  Laurence  and  ETyne," 

Profiting  by  the  examples  shown  him  by  his  friend 
and  patron,  Hyne,  in  a  few  months  after,  consum- 
mated the  nuptial  vow  by  his  marriage  with  the 
daughter  of  the  celebrated  Colonel  Trumble,  other- 
wise called,  "  Trumble,  the  painter." 

The  success  with  which  Laurence  and  Hyne  met 
in  their  business,  increased  with  a  rapidity  beyond 
their  expectations,  and  the  care  with  which  it  was 
conducted  by  both  of  them  augured  a  handsome 
competency,  if  not  that  of  opulence.  The  happiness 
they  enjoyed  in  the  marriage  state  produced  an  ease 
and  comfort  long  unknown  to  them  in  the  toils  and 
troubles  they  had  experienced  during  the  services 
rendered  in  defence  of  their  country.  Frequently 
our  new  merchants  would  speak  of  their  old  camp- 
friend  and  commander,  Leftridge,  and  their  no  less 
esteemed  friend,  Withrow. 

"  I  should  be  much  pleased,"  said  Mrs.  Hyne,  one 
evening,  in  an  assemblage  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  at 
her  own  house,  "  to  see  the  English  gentleman  of 
whom  I  have  heard  Major  Laurence  and  my  husband 
so  often,  and  in  such  flatteringly  high  terms,  speak. 
If  his  manners  are  as  captivating  as  his  generous 
spirit  has  been  nobly  developed  in  saving  the  life  of 
Colonel  Leftridge,  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  some  of 
our  young  ladies  would  become  greatly  smitten ;  and 
that  not  the  slightest  objection,  on  their  parts,  would 
be  made  at  an  alliance  between,  if  I  may  make  the 
distinction,  British  and  American  blood." 

She  had   scarcely  finished   her   remark,  before  a 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY.  83 

response  was  heard  from  a  group  of  several  ladies,  of, 
"  I  wish  he  was  here  now  ;  his  being  an  Englishman 
would  make  no  difference  with  me,  if  he  is  an 
honorable  and  gentlemanly  one  in  his  manners  and 
deportment." 

"  Ladies,"  replied  Hyne,  as  he  sat  listening  for  some 
time  at  their  different  expressions,  complimentary  of 
his  friend,  "  your  encomiums  upon  Mr.  Withrow, 
gratifying  as  they  are  to  me,  and  would  be  to  him  if 
he  were  amongst  us,  are  far  short  of  those  he  merits. 
So  far  as  my  knowledge  of  him  extends,  I  willingly 
vouch  for  his  being,  as  you  have  just  observed, 
a  gentlemanly,  honorable  and  high-minded  man ; 
but  with  regard  to  some  of  your  remarks  upon  his 
susceptibility  of  love,  I  am  not  entirely  prepared  to 
say.  One  thing  about  it,  however,  I  do  know,  and 
that  is,  that  on  one  occasion,  at  the  mention  of  the 
name  of  Miss  Rayford,  the  neice  of  Colonel  Leftridge, 
I  discovered  in  him.  much  appearance  of  embarrass- 
ment and  confusion,  which,  I  think,  Major  Laurence, 
recollects  as  well  as  myself." 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  Major;  "  and  I  further  believe 
that  he  is  already  in  love  with  the  highly  estimable 
young  lady  just  spoken  of.  I  have  known  her  from 
the  period  of  her  childhood,  and  if  Mr.  Hyne  and  I 
are  right  in  our  opinions,  I  fear  your  chance  of 
conquest  over  him,  ladies,  is  a  bad  one,  for  he  is, 
long  before  this  time,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  renewed 
acquaintance  with  that  amiable  and  accomplished 
girl.  Indeed,  I  presume,  as  the  letters  of  Mr.  Hyne 
and  myself  have  remained  so  long  unanswered,  that 
not  only  Mr.  Withrow,  but  the  Colonel  also,  will  be 
married,  as  part  of  the  next  news  we  hear  from  them. 


84  THE   HEIKE3SES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

From  my  earliest  acquaintance  with  him,"  continued 
Laurence,  "  I  cannot  divest  my  mind  of  the  impres- 
sion that  Mr.  Withrow  is  a  descendant  of  some  highly 
respectable  family ;  and  mysterious  as  everything 
now  appears  about  him,  that  his  real  character  will 
one  day  appear  brilliant  and  clear,  as  it  now  is 
strange  and  reserved." 

"  I  do  not  exactly  understand,  Major,"  said  a  lady 
near  him,  "why  you  did  not  bring  the  English  stran- 
ger along  with  you  to  our  city,  and  let  him  have 
figured  awhile  amongst  us,  before  sending  him,  an 
exile,  to  the  mountains  of  Virginia,  notwithstanding 
the  power  of  attraction  which  the  girl  of  the  moun- 
tain may  have  had  over  his  movements." 

"  That  is  true,"  returned  Laurence;  "  but  however 
much  I  might  have  desired  it,  my  wishes  were  all 
yielded  to  the  known  anxieties  of  Colonel  Leftridge." 

The  Major  had  scarcely  finished  his  last  remark, 
before  a  servant  entered  the  room,  bearing  several 
letters  directed  to  the  firm  of  Laurence  &  Hyne,  and 
one  to  Laurence  individually.  The  servant  was  one 
who  had  been  with  him  in  his  different  campaigns; 
and  as  he  came  up  to  where  the  Major  and  his  lady 
were,  he  attracted  the  attention  of  all  present  by  his 
smiling  appearance,  and  remark  of,  "Here,  sir,  is  a 
letter  from  our  Colonel ;  I  would  know  his  hand- 
writing among  a  thousand." 

It  was,  as  the  servant  had  said,  a  letter  from  the 
Colonel.  Upon  reading  it,  the  countenance  of  Lau- 
rence became  pale,  and  his  whole  appearance  indicated 
a  deep-felt  sorrow. 

"  What  is  the  matter?  has  anything  serious  hap- 
pened ?"  inquired  Mrs.  Laurence,  as,  attended  by  Mr. 


1IIE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  85 

and  Mrs.  Hyne,  she  came  walking  to  where  he  was 
reading  the  letter. 

"  Yes,"  said  he.  Then  turning  to  Hyne,  he  said, 
"take  this,"  handing  him  the  letter,  "and  read  it 
aloud,  for  it  is  more  than  I  can  silently  do  at  the 
present  time." 

Hyne  took  the  letter,  and,  while  Laurence  sat  as 
sombre  as  he  had  just  before  appeared  sprightly  and 
gay,  read  as  follows : — 

"  Pother ingay,  Fa.,  May  1,  1784. 
"  MY  DEAR  SIR  : 

"  Yours,  as  well  as  ,the  letter  of  Mr.  Hyne  have 
been  for  some  months  received.  In  them  I  have 
been  favored  with  the  information  of  the  marriage  of 
both  of  you,  and  my  knowledge  of  the  families  to 
which  you  are  united,  affords  me  indescribable  plea- 
sure. 

"  No  comment  is  necessary  from  me  by  way  of  ex- 
pressing my  wishes  for  your  happiness ;  for,  both  of 
you  have  long  known  and  experienced  the  influence 
of  my  warmest  regards. 

"  I  had  thought,  by  this  time,  to  have  been  able  to 
announce  to  you  my  marriage  also,  as  you  well  know 
the  intimation  I  gave  you  of  my  intention,  the  night' 
previous  to  the  battle  of  Camden.  It  has  been  unin- 
tentionally as  unavoidably  prolonged,  consequent 
upon  the  excessive  and  dangerous  illness  of  my 
honored  friend  "VVithrow.  He  has  been  prostrated 
nearly  three  months,  and  in  it  has  had  not  only  the 
best  medical  aid  which  the  county  affords,  but  also 
that  of  the  untiring  as  well  as  the  unabated  attentions 
of  myself,  united  with  those  of  my  mother  my  sister 
and  Julia. 


86  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHER.'NGAY. 

"  Often  during  the  fevered  derangement  of  his 
brain,  he  has  spoken  of  you  and  Mr.  Hyne,  and  has 
insisted  that  you  were  both  present,  but  would  not 
speak  to  him  :  at  other  times  he  speaks  of  me,  asking 
the  question,  Is  he  safe  ?  That,  however,  which  is 
most  astonishing  to  all  of  us  is,  the  frequent  and 
broken  sentences  made  use  of  by  him  in  his  moments 
of  delirium,  sometimes  asking  for  his  mother,  and  at 
other  periods  speaking  of  Mr.  Pitt  and  other  cele- 
brated men  of  England. 

"  A  change  must  in  a  few  hours  take  place  either 
for  the  better  or  worse.  Whatever  it  may  be  I  shall 
advise  you  of  forthwith. 

"Please  present  me,  with  sentiments  of  high  as 
merited  regard,  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hyne,  and  for  you  and 
your  lady,  receive  the  same  unchangeable  sentiments 
of  high  esteem  from, 

"  Truly  yours, 

"  GEORGE  LEFTRIDGE. 

"  To  Major  WILLIAM  LAURENCE." 

The  letter  of  his  Colonel,  to  his  friend,  soon  put  a 
quietus  upon  all  further  gaieties  and  amusements  of 
the  evening,  given  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hyne ;  and  the 
gloom  so  strongly  visible  upon  the  countenances  of  all 
present,  produced  the  impression  upon  the  minds  of 
our  merchants  and  their  ladies,  that,  though  a  stranger 
to  them,  the  news  of  the  illness  of  Withrow,  had 
created  a  sympathizing  influence  over  the  feelings  of 
their  guests. 

"  How  frail,  and  yet  how  presumptive  a  creature  is 
man,"  said  Laurence  to  his  lady,  as  they  were  return- 
ing home  that  evening.  "At  the  summit  of  his  great- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  87 

ness,  how  completely  dependent  lie  is  upon  that  Power 
as  mysterious  as  He  is  wise,  whose  omnipresent  and 
beautiful  greatness,  ungrateful  as  man  is,  still  sustains 
him. 

"  From  my  acquaintance  with,  I  believe  the  distin- 
guished friend  of  Colonel  Leftridge,  to  be  a  Christian, 
and  if  so,  should  he,  at  this  time,  have  done  with  the 
affairs  of  this,  he  has,  ere  now,  had  presented  to  him  a 
position  in  the  next  world  incalculably  beyond  every 
thing  in  this. 

"The  hypocrite,  who  strives  harder  to  gain  hell 
than  the  Christian  does  to  obtain  heaven,  he  despises, 
if  possible,  more  than  his  Satanic  Majesty  does,  the 
immediate  angels  of  the  Throne  of  Grace.  I  have 
never,"  he  continued,  "  in  all  my  experience  with 
men,  seen  one  so  entirely  tenacious,  and  averse  to 
giving  the  least  trouble  to  those  of  his  fellow  men  as 
Withrow.  It  seems  to  me  that  he  must  have  had  a 
presentiment  of  his  present  illness  ;  and  that  it  was  to 
take  place  at  the  residence  of  the  Colonel,  with  whose 
frequent  solicitations  to  accompany  him,  he  with  so 
much  reluctance  complied.  Should  he  survive  his 
present  illness,  I  believe  he  will  become  married  to 
Julia  Rayford.  An  alliance,  there,  and  nothing  else, 
will  ever  enable  us  to  know  who  he  really  is.  But  be 
that  all  as  it  may,*he  is,  nevertheless,  a  gentleman,  and 
one  too  who  has  seen  a  far  better  condition  in  life  than 
the  one  he  has  for  a  long  time  since  moved  in." 

For  some  weeks'  suspense,  that  most  disagreeable  of 
all  ingredients  of  the  mind,  occupied  the  imagination 
of  both  our  mercantile  friends,  as  well  as  those  of  their 
ladies.  Day  after  day  passed,  and  yet  no  letter  was 
received;  despair  had  usurped  the  place  of  hope,  and 


88  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

the  conclusion  that  Withrow  was  no  more,  had  become 
deeply  impressed  upon  their  minds. 

One  evening,  while  the  family  was  at  tea,  a  tap  was 
heard  at  the  door,  when,  presently  after,  an  acquaint- 
ance, entering  the  dining-room,  presented  Laurence  a 
letter,  which,  he  said,  "  the  post-master  had  just  re- 
quested him  to  bring,  as  he  was  coming  that  way,  and 
as  the  words  "In  haste"  were  written  upon  it." 

The  gentlemen  withdrew  after  a  short  time,  and  for 
a  moment  the  Major  hesitated,  but  discovering  that  the 
wax  with  which  the  letter  was  sealed  was  red,  and  that 
the  words  "  all  is  well,"  were  in  bold  characters, 
stamped  upon  the  seal,  he  opened  it  and  read  as  fol- 
lows, viz.: 

11  Fotheringay,  Pa.,  June  16,  1784. 
"  MY  DEAR  SIR  : 

"  For  six  weeks  past  I  have  made  continual  post- 
ponements in  my  every  day  expectation  to  write  to 
you,  but  it  was  with  a  view  when  I  did  so  of  giving 
you  and  Mr.  Hyne  the  more  cheering  news. 

"  The  Omnipotent  Sovereign  of  heaven  and  earth 
has  been  graciously  pleased  to  spare  the  life  of  my 
friend.  Mr,  Withrow  has  entirely  recovered  his 
health,  but  is  yet  very  weak.  The  mountain  air,  how- 
ever, which  he  brefathes  in  this  region  of  country,  will, 
it  is  hoped,  soon  restore  him  to  his  usual  health  of 
body  and  vigor  of  mind. 

"  I  have  informed  him  of  the  marriage  of  yourself 
and  Mr.  Hyne ;  he  speaks  often  of  both  of  you,  and 
says  that  he  ( hopes  to  have  the  pleasure  soon  of  ten- 
dering in  person  his  sincere  desire  for  the  attendants 
of  happiness  and  prosperity  upon  his  two  never  to  be 
forgotten  friends.' 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  89 

"  Present  me,  as  entertaining  respectful  regards,  to 
the  silent  partners  of  the  firm  of  'Laurence  &  Hyne,' 
and  for  the  active  ones,  I  request  them  to  accept  of  the 
unalloyed  wishes  of  a  prosperous  and  happy  life,  from 
their 

"True  friend, 

"GEORGE  LEFTRIDGE." 

Our  merchants  and  their  ladies  were  again  in  pos- 
session of  their  usual  gaiety  and  cheerfulness.  And 
the  continual  routine  of  success  attending  the  firm  of 
"  Laurence  &  Hyne,"  was  such  as  to  give  them  ease, 
and  to  augur  a  future  position  among  the  opulent,  but 
not  purse-proud  citizens  of  New  York. 

The  latter  are  a  class  of  beings  to  whom  the  better 
feelings  as  well  as  mental  faculties  of  our  two  friends, 
and  others  like  them,  were  perfect  strangers;  and  with 
whom,  so  far  as  social  intercourse  was  concerned,  a 
distinct  line  of  demarcation  was  observed.  Not  so, 
however,  to  those  to  whom  wealth  is  a  blessing; 
whose  intellectual  faculties  dictate,  and  whose  gene- 
rous hearts  and  bountiful  hands,  in  humble  imitation 
of  the  Great  Author  of  all  good,  are  employed  and 
extended  to  the  feeding  of  the  hungry  and  clothing 
of  the  poor. 

Here,  reader,  after  having  been  longer  detained  by 
them  than  I  had  anticipated,  we  will  bid  an  adieu  for 
the  present  to  our  city  friends,  and  go  into  the  moun- 
tains of  Virginia,  where  we  purpose  taking  a  further 
notice  of  Colonel  Leftridge  and  his  now  convalescent 
friend. 


90  THE   HEIKESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

Sincerity  is  the  base  of  all  the  virtues;  destroy  it  and  the  whole  temple 
of  excellence  becomes  a  mass  of  ruins. 

THE  hospitable  reception  of  Withrow  at  Fotherin- 
gay,  was  of  that  order  peculiarly  characteristic  of  the 
Virginians,  and  of  which  particular  no  State  in  the 
Union  affords  a  parallel. 

His  introduction  to  Mrs.  Leftridge,  her  daughter 
and  grand -daughter,  was  one  of  such  cordial  welcome, 
as  at  once  to  convince  him  that  he  then  was  in  the 
presence  of  those  who  really  respected  and  esteemed 
him,  who  spared  no  pains  in  their  efforts  to  make  his 
stay  with  them  an  agreeable  one,  and  in  every  respect 
to  realize  the  fact  to  him  that  their  mansion  was  his 
own. 

Every  act  and  word  of  the  ladies  towards  him,  dis- 
played a  magnanimity  of  soul  in  the  acknowledgment 
of  their  gratitude,  that  few  are  susceptible  of.  Inde- 
pendent of  the  attention  paid  to  him  by  her  grand- 
mother and  her  mother,  Miss  Rayford  was  his 
constant  attendant ;  and  from  the  moment  his  illness 
took  such  a  change  as  to  augur  convalescence,  read  to, 
and  held  conversations  with  him  daily,  upon  such 
topics  as  were  most  conducive  to  his  amusement  and 
pleasure. 

"  0  woman  !  in  our  hours  of  ease, 

Uncertain,  coy,  and  hard  to  please  ; 

And  variable  as  the  shade, 

By  the  light  quivering  aspen  made. 

When  pain  and  anguish  wring  the  brow, 

A  ministering  angel  thou  ! 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  91 

The  force  of  the  poet's  remarks,  in  his  no  less  true 
than  merited  eulogy  upon  woman,  was  verified  in  the 
attentions  paid  Withrovv  by  the  ladies  at  Fotheringay. 

There  are  the  fewest  number  of  men  capable  of 
appreciating  the  intrinsic  worth  of  the  opposite  of  our 
sex.  And  hence  the  entire  wreck  of  anticipated  hap- 
piness predicated  upon  false  professions  and  abuse  of 
confidence  reposed.  Man  is  ignoble,  an  ingrate,  and 
not  what  he  was  designed  for  when  he  abuses  the 
rights  of  woman. 

"  Ladies,"  said  Withrow,  one  evening,  and  just 
before  tea,  to  Mrs.  Leftridge  and  her  daughter,  "I 
had  not  the  most  distant  idea,  at  the  time  I  first  had 
the  honor  of  seeing  you,  and  at  a  period  too  when  I 
was  in  the  ranks  of  an  army  inimical  to  your  country, 
that  I  should  ever  be  a  guest  and  inmate  of  your 
family.  The  events  of  an  All-knowing  and  an  All- 
wise  Creator  in  the  terminations  of  his  will  has  so 
ordered  it.  And  now,  how  to  compensate  you  for  the 
kind  attentions  bestowed  upon  me  is  a  material,  with 
me,  of  no  small  uneasiness  of  mind.  I  have  been  here 
for  months  an  unavoidable  invalid  and  burthen  to 
you ;  and  but  for  whose  kind  attentions  given,  would 
now  have  been  in  the  world  of  spirits.  My  health,  he 
continued,  is  so  far  regained  as  to  make  it  necessary 
that  I  should  take  such  steps  as  will,  as  soon  as  prac- 
ticable, exhibit  an  intention  on  my  part  to  relieve 
you  of  further  trouble,  and  to  seek  another  home,  and 
that  too  among  strangers,  where  to  commence  my 
career  in  this,  now,  land  of  liberty.  The  hospitalities 
shown  me  by  you  shall  never  be  effaced  from  my 
recollection.  Nor  will  ever,  my  heart  cease  to  throb 
for  and  be  accompanied  by  a  lasting  remembrance  of, 


92  THE    HEIRE3SE3   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

Madam,  (looking  at  Mrs.  Rayford  as  lie  spoke  it)  your 
most  estimable  of  all  daughters." 

At  that  moment  Miss  Eayford  entered  his  apart- 
ment, followed  by  a  servant,  and  where  the  remarks 
just  finished  had  with  surprise  and  regret,  by  her 
mother  and  grand  mother  been  listened  to. 

"  Come,  Mr.  Withrow,"  said  she,  smiling,  as  she 
walked  to  a  table  where  he  was  seated,  "  you  are  now 
under  my  control,  you  know  that  the  Doctor  has 
given  you  to  me,  and  that  too  by  your  own  consent ; 
so  that  in  future  you  cannot  say  that  he  or  I  either, 
have  usurped  your  rights  of  liberty  and  free  will.  I 
might  have  starved  you  in  your  former  helpless  con- 
dition, if  I  had  chosen  to  show  you  that  I  have  no 
other  wish  than  to  be  kind,  attentive  and  affectionate 
to  those  whom  I  may  have — even  fora  limited  period 
— in  my  power.  I  have  brought  you  something,  pre- 
pared by  my  own  hands,  that  is  a  little  more  palatable, 
and  which,  I  think,  you  will  relish  a  great  deal  better 
for  your  supper  than  Peruvian  bark  and  drugs  of  the 
apothecary,  to  which  you  have  been  so  long  a  neces- 
sitated customer." 

"  I  am,  in  every  sense  of  the  word,"  said  Withrow, 
smiling,  and  as  a  crimson  glow  mantled  the  pale  hue 
of  his  sick- worn  cheeks,  "  a  willing  subordinate  ;  and 
had  I  the  appointing  power,  would  much  rather  create 
you  my  counsel  for  life,  than  to  see  you  in  a  command 
depending  so  much  upon  apparent  contingencies." 

Miss  Rayford  was  confused  at  his  reply,  and  her 
mother  discovering,  said,  "  Julia  is  not  an  adept,  Mr. 
Withrow,  on  subjects  of  such  important  diplomacy, 
as  the  one,  perhaps,  to  which  you  may  have  reference. 
Wisdom  and  discretion  are  mostly  looked  for  in  the 


THE   IIEH-E.-.-ES    OF    FOTIIERINGAY.  93 

appointment  to  high  offices.  And,  doubtless,  when 
she  is  aware  of  the  true  design  of  him  who  would 
confer  a  Consulate  upon  her  for  life,  she  will  then  act 
in  concert  with  one,  who  like  you,  would  approve  of 
her  administration — so  far,  at  least,  as  duty  to  him, 
and  affection  for  him  are  concerned.  And  here,  let 
me  add,  in  point  of  government  affairs,  that  a  recip- 
rocal feeling  of  love  and  duty  is  a  republic  in  minia- 
ture; and  in  the  absence  of  either  one  or  the  other, 
a  corrupt  administration  ensues,  the  government  is 
shaken  to  its  centre;  and,  unless  judiciously  repaired, 
ultimately  falls  into  ruin." 

"My  mother,  Mr.  "VVithrow,"  replied  Miss  Kay- 
ford,  "has  kindly  relieved  me.  Yourself  and  she 
know  more  of  the  matters  of  which  you  have  just 
spoken,  than  I  am  presumed  to  know,  but  the  day 
may  yet  come  when  I  shall  be  the  Consul  elect  of 

;"  without  finishing  the  sentence,  and  putting 

her  right  finger  perpendicularly  across  her  lips,  she 
courteously  bowed  to  him.  and  left  the  room. 

For  a  few  moments  "Withrow  exhibited  considerable 
marks  of  a  confused  imagination,  but  recovering  him- 
self, he  said,  "I  shall  never  forget  the  time  I  first 
made  that  sign,  nor  the  subsequent  events  it  has 
given  rise  to." 

"Nor  will  they  in  whose  presence  you  now  are, 
ever  forget  the  man  whose  generosity  has  given  the 
grand  impetus  to  all  of  them,"  said  Mrs.  Leftridge. 
"And  here,  my  dear  sir,"  she  continued,  "suffer  me 
to  correct  the  error  you  have  fallen  into.  A  few 
moments  ago  you  said  that  you  were  our  debtor; 
not  so,  for  we  are  yours,  and  as  such,  allow  me  to 
add,  can  never  do  too  much  for  you." 


94:  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

Withrow  was  about  to  reply,  but  the  ladies,  bid- 
ding him  good-night,  left  his  room,  and  entered  their 
own  apartments. 

Left  alone,  and  to  the  entire  free  range  of  his 
reflections  upon  his  past,  present  and  future  course, 
it  was  at  a  late  hour  before  AVithrow  laid  down,  and 
at  a  still  later  one  before  sleep  relieved  his  then 
vascillating  mind.  He  was  now  evidently  in  love 
with  Miss  Rayford,  and  from  every  conclusion  at  which 
we  can  possibly  arrive  under  circumstantial  evidence, 
(as  my  esteemed  friends  of  the  bar  would  say,)  I 
think  my  fair  readers,  at  least,  will  agree  with  me 
in  opinion  that  the  passion  was  reciprocal  between 
the  parties. 

Withrow's  captivity  was  not  so  much  on  account 
of  the  external,  as  it  was  the  internal  qualities  that 
adorned  the  qualities  of  Julia.  The  former  qualifica- 
tions are  withal  like  those  of  the  beauties  of  Flora, 
doomed  to  change  and  decay !  while  the  latter,  like 
Diamond,  is  seen  shining  with  the  same  unchangeable 
and  brilliant  lustre,  through  and  under  all  vicissitudes 
of  life,  and  which  are  equally  so  at  the  throb  of  the 
last  pulse. 

What  to  do,  was  a  matter  of  serious  consideration 
with  Withrow.  He  knew  that  his  then  circumstances 
in  life  would  not  justify  his  own  consent  to  an  appli- 
cation to  Julia  for  her  heart  and  hand.  And  he 
entertained  too  much  magnanimity  of  soul  to  presume 
upon  what  he  had  done  for  one  of  her  family,  as  a 
basis  of  his  claim  to  the  hand  of  Miss  Rayford.  But 
Love  conquered  Reason,  and  led  Captivity  captive. 

"Withrow  resolved  to  make  a  declaration  of  his 
passion  at  the  earliest  opportunity,  and  to  ask  tho 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHEKINGAY.  95 

bestowal  upon  him  of  the  heart'  and  hand  of  his 
heretofore  looked  upon  sympathizing  and  strictly 
attentive  friend. 

At  the  usual  hour  the  next  morning,  his  breakfast 
was  brought  to  him  by  a  servant;  though  unaccom- 
panied by  Miss  Eayford,  as  was  her  daily  custom  at 
his  respective  meal  hours.  That  unlooked  for  as  well 
as  unexpected  change,  created  in  him  an  indescribable 
emotion.  Ignorant  of  the  cause  of  it,  he  was  imme- 
diately impressed  with  the  belief  that  his  familiarities 
on  the  evening  before  had  given  offence  to  Julia  and 
to  her  esteemed  relatives. 

Withrow's  breakfast  was  soon  finished ;  for,  under 
the  suspense  of  mind  that  he  then  was,  appetite  is 
very  seldom  known  to  be  kind. 

"  Miss  Julia,"  said  the  servant,  as  he  was  about  to 
leave  the  room,  "  told  me  to  present  her  compliments 
to  you,  and  to  ask  you  to  send  her  word  how  you  feel 
this  morning." 

"Tell  your  Miss  Julia  that  I  thank  her  for  her 
kind  solicitude,  and  that  I  am  not  as  well  as  I  was 
last  evening." 

"  Familiarity  begets  contempt,"  said  Withrow,  as 
he  threw  himself  in  an  arm-chair,  where  he  had  been 
so  often  and  attentively  watched  over  by  the  now  ob- 
ject of  his  affection.  "  But,"  he  continued,  "if  I  am 
at  the  present  time  the  subject  of  contempt  in  the 
estimation  of  Miss  Rayford,  I  have  the  consolation  left 
me  to  know  that  I  am  honorably  so;  and  hence  must 
forego  all  ideas  relative  to  her,  save  that  of  profound 
respect  and  esteem,  which  I  hope  will  not  be  offen- 
sive." 

At  his  dining  hour,  the  same  routine  was  observed. 


96  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEKTXGAY. 

The  servants  alone  attended  him,  and  the  like  compli- 
ments and  requests  delivered,  and  answers  returned, 
as  were  at  breakfast. 

"  Could  I,"  said  he,  after  the  servant  had  gone, 
"  condescend  to  that  of  the  character  and  actions  of  a 
prj,  I  could  by  means  of  a  few  shillings,  convert  that 
servant  to  my  use :  but  the  "  pry,"  as  well  as  its  kin- 
dred spirits,  the  tattler  and  gossip,  are  beings  so  closely 
connected  with  one  another  in  their  despicable  and  de- 
structive influence,  that  the  mere  thought  of  being  one 
or  the  other  is  far  beneath  the  dignity  of  a  lady  as  well 
as  that  of  a  gentleman.  Hence,  I  must  remain  in  igno- 
rance of  why  I  am  thus  treated,  till  it  becomes,  if 
ever,  the  will  and  pleasure  of  this  still  highly  re- 
spected and  amiable  family  to  inform  me." 


CHAPTEK    XII. 

Reverses  of  fortune  are  among  the  ills  of  life;  and  they  who  can  bear 
them  with  firmness  and  resignation,  erect  living  monuments  to  pre- 
eminence of  mind. 

THAT  hour  immediately  preceding  the  arrival  of 
daylight  upon  the  horizon,  is  one  of  more  darkness 
than  any  other  of  the  night.  Withrow  was  sombre; 
not  so  much  on  account  of  his  affection  for  Miss  Bay- 
ford  as  that  of  to  him  unaccounted-for  cause  of  her 
absence.  He  loved  her,  it  is  true;  but  his  sensitive 
bosom  had  already  inflicted  a  penance  on  him  for 
what  he  now  thought  his  imprudence  of  the  la.^t 
ni'jrht.  Having  bought  trouble  at  wholesale  from  the 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  97 

events  occurring  the  evening  before,  and  being  plen- 
tifully supplied  with  mental  torture,  he  thought  that 
reading  would  afford  him  some  respite ;  and  taking 
from  his  trunk  a  miniature  volume  of  Select  Poems, 
the  first  upon,  opening  of  it  that  met  his  eye,  and  that 
seemed  also  well  adapted  to  his  now  love-sick  case, 
was  an  address  to  Hope,  in  the  following  words : — 

"  Ah  !  gentle  Hope,  shall  I  no  more 

Thy  cheerful  influence  share  ? 
Oh  !  must  I  still  thy  loss  deplore, 

And  be  the  slave  of  care  ? 
The  gloom  that  now  obscures  my  days, 

At  thy  approach  would  fly, 
And  glowing  fancy  would  display 

A  bright,  unclouded  sky. 
Ah!  seek  again  my  lonely  breast, 

Dislodge  each  painful  fear, 
Be  once  again  my  Heavenly  guest, 

And  stay  each  falling  tear." 

Just  as  he  had  finished  the  reading  of  the  last  line, 
a  gentle  tap  was  made  at  his  door,  and  one  too,  which 
he  well  knew  the  giver  of.  He  immediately  laid  down 
his  book,  though  open,  with  the  back  of  it  up,  then 
walking  to  open  the  door  of  his  apartment,  when  the 
three  ladies  of  the  house  accompanied  by  Doctor 
Craigne,  his  physician,  entered  the  room. 

Some  ten  or  twelve  days  previous,  the  Doctor  had 
instructed  Withrow  to  keep  his  room  till  his  return, 
and  had  given  to  Miss  Rayford,  in  his  presence,  some 
instructions  relative  to  his  diet. 

"  I  have  come  now,"  said  the  Doctor  to  "Withrow, 
approaching  him,  "  to  release  you  from  all  further  ne- 
cessity of  keeping  your  room.  Moderate  and  uniform 

7 


98  THE   HEIKESSES   OF   FOTHEKINGAY. 

exercise  together  with  that  of  cheerfulness,  the  last  of 
which  (looking  at  Julia)  I  suppose  the  young  lady  is 
willing  to  be  a  tributary  for  your  sake,  is  all  you  now 
require." 

Miss  Eayford  knew  that  she  would  have  to  make 
some  sort  of  reply  to  the  "  double  entendre"  just  made 
use  of  by  the  Doctor,  and  happening  to  catch  sight  of 
it,  took  up  the  book,  then  casting  a  look  at  its  con- 
tents, said: 

"  Mr.  Withrow  it  seems  has  been  invoking  hope !  I 
assure  him  that  so  far  as  I  am  concerned,  he  will  con- 
tinue to  have,  as  he  has  had,  every  attention  bestowed 
upon  him  from  time  to  time,  within  my  gift.  And  here, 
sir,"  addressing  Withrow,  "  I  have  an  apology  to  offer 
for  not  having  made  my  appearance  at  your  breakfast 
nor  at  your  dinner,  as  has  been,  you  know,  long  my 
custom  to  do.  And  the  reason  I  have  for  that  seem- 
ing neglect  is,  that  Miss  Lewis,  my  very  intimate 
friend  and  adjoining  neighbor  came  over  and  break- 
fasted and  dined  with  me  to-day.  Is  my  apology  a 
sufficient  one,  and  is  it  accepted  ?"  asked  Julia. 

"  Certainly,"  replied  Withrow,  "  for  I  have  no  right 
whatever,  to  object  to  any  neglect  you  may  think 
proper  to  treat  me  with,  nor  have  I  the  slightest  claim 
upon  your  attentions." 

"  Yes,  you  have,"  replied  Julia,  with  a  countenance 
expressive  of  gaiety  and  a  light  untroubled  heart, 
"  for  you  know  that  the  Doctor  told  you  to  report  me 
to  him  if  any  thing  went  wrong  with  you  that  I  could 
have  prevented  during  his  absence.  Besides  my  uncle, 
who  we  expect  home  to-day,  will  expect  your  account 
to  corroborate  the  strict  one  required  of  me,  of  the 
attentions  paid  his  friend." 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  99 

After  a  few  general  remarks  the  ladies  withdrew, 
and  Withrow  being  alone  with  the  Doctor  took  that 
opportunity  to  ask  for  his  bill. 

"Your  bill,"  replied  Doctor  Craigne,  is  already 
settled." 

"How  so?"  said  Withrow. 

"  By  Colonel  Leftridge,  sir,"   resumed  the  Doctor. 

"  By  Colonel  Leftridge !"  with  a  look  of  astonish 
ment,  said  Withrow. 

"Yes,  sir,"  resumed  Craigne,  "and  here  let  me 
inform  you  that  I  am  in  possession  of  a  knowledge  of 
the  causes  giving  rise  to  such  a  measure,  and,"  con- 
tinued he,  "as  you  are  now,  so  meritoriously  the 
highly  distinguished  favorite  of  this  family,  I  feel  no 
hesitancy  in  telling  you,  that  in  myself  and  my  sister 
as  additional  members  of  it,  in  an  alliance  by  marriage, 
you  will  find  two  more,  who  will  take  and  feel  much 
pride  in  your  further  acquaintance." 

"  You  honor  me,  sir,"  replied  Withrow,  "  with  in- 
formation that  I  had  not  the  most  remote  ideas  upon, 
the  confirmation  of  which,  will,  doubtless,  and  as  I 
most  devoutly  hope,  afford  that  routine  of  happiness 
so  justly  due  to  both  of  you." 

In  a  few  moments  his  former  physician,  and  now 
declared  friend  left  his  room,  and  Withrow  was  again 
alone. 

Notwithstanding  the  assiduous  attentions  he  had 
met  with  from  Miss  Kayford,  and  the  ease  and  grace- 
ful appearance,  intermixed  with  preference  accompa- 
nying them,  the  thought  still  imposed  itself  upon  the 
mind  of  Withrow,  that  all  proceeded  only  from  the 
innate  superiority  of  her  intellect ;  and  the  dignity  and 
grace  with  which  its  display  was  manifested,  in  listen- 


100  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

ing  upon  him,  an  invalid  guest  in  the  house  of  her 
uncle,  that  -kind  of  attention  so  signally  grateful  to 
the  feelings  of  the  sick,  when  emanating  from  the  hand 
of  the  ladies. 

Under  these  impressions  he  had  begun  to  abandon 
the  conclusion  to  which  he  had  arrived,  of  preferring 
his  suit. 

At  that  period  the  revolution  of  France  exhibited 
an  extended  field  of  action  for  the  brave  and  aspiring 
genius  of  all.  Napoleon,  that  star  of  military  reno\vn, 
who  had  so  effectually  astounded  the  European  world, 
had  begun  his  brilliant  career!  And  the  galaxy  of 
distinguished  merit  which  he  had  already  assembled 
around  him,  was  the  centre  of  gravity  to  which  many 
a  noble  soul,  and  gallant-hearted  man,  had  repaired. 

"I  have  come  to  America  as  a  soldier,"  said  With- 
row.  "In  this  happy  land  I  had  concluded  to  stay; 
and  in  it,  I  have  become  attached  to  one,  who,  it  is 
now  impossible  for  me  to  obtain.  In  the  army  and 
camp  of  France,  I  may  be  able  to  dissipate  my  pre- 
sent feelings;  distinguish  myself  by  some  act,  worthy 
the  notice  and  favor  of  the  Emperor,  and  still  live  as 
I  have  done  for  many  years,  in  entire  ignorance  with 
regard  to  my  existence  in  the  knowledge  of  those 
whose  pulse  partakes  of  the  same  material,  as  does  that 
of  my  own." 

Toward  sunset  of  that  evening,  Colonel  Leftridge 
arrived  from  the  City  of  Eichmond,  Virginia,  where 
he  had  been  for  some  weeks,  engaged  in  attending  to 
some  business  relative  to  the  estate  of  his  father. 
After  greeting  the  ladies,  in  a  manner  so  peculiar  to 
him  as  a  son,  as  a  brother  and  as  an  uncle,  he  repaired 
to  the  apartment  of  his  friend.  Scarcely  had  he 


THE   HEIKESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  101 

grasped  his  hand,  and  had  passed  through  the  ordeal 
of  congratulation,  expressive  of  the  pleasure  felt  at 
seeing  him  restored  to  health,  ere  he  discovered  the 
well-known  signs  of  an  intended  journey. 

An  empty  trunk  was  seen  standing  close  to  one  side 
of  his  bed,  upon  which  several  packages  were  here 
and  there  deposited,  neatly  and  closely  rolled  up,  and 
ready  to  be  put  into  their  intended  depot  for  convey- 
ance. 

"What!  my  invaluable  friend,  in  the  name  of  all 
earthly  consideration  can  this  mean?"  said  Leftridge, 
as  he  looked  earnestly,  though  kindly,  in  the  face  of 
Withrow.  "  The  helter-skelter  condition  of  your  room 
this  evening,  would  induce  me  to  believe  (if  I  did  not 
know  them  better)  that  you  were  now  an  object  of 
neglect,  contempt,  and  even  scorn,  with  the  members 
of  my  family — and  the  packages  I  see  distributed 
about  on  your  bed,  would  make  me  believe  what  I 
have  just  said,  to  be  really  the  case,  that  under  the 
impression  you  were  unhesitatingly  about  leaving  the 
premises  of  your  true  friend.  Excuse  me,"  he  con- 
tinued, "I  have  never  before  been  imperative  with 
you,  nor  am  I  now  so,  but  from  the  best  of  motives, 
therefore,  the  reasons  governing  you  are  required. 
The  superiority  of  your  mind,  and  the  profound 
judgment  and  good  sense,  with  which  your  former 
good  acts  towards  me  have  been  accompanied,  will  at 
once  tell  you  that  I  am  right,  if  it  were  for  no  other 
cause  than  to  account  to  my  mother  and  sister  for 
that,  of  which  as  yet,  they  know  nothing — your 
abruptly  intended  departure  from  Fotheringay." 

"Your  frankness  rivets  me  still  closer  to  you,"  re- 
plied Withrow,  "  and  wore  it  possible  th^  nttrn^lion 


102  THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

you  have  over  me,  would  on  this  occasion  produce 
the  reasons  why  I  have  your  house  and  its  estimable 
inmates.  Many  things  incident  to  my  life  remain 
hidden  with  me,  and  those  you  require,  must,  for  the 
present  at  least,  be  added  to  the  number." 

A  mutual  and  death-like  silence  ensued  between 
our  two  friends,  and  in  a  few  moments  after,  Leftridge 
rose  from  his  chair,  bade  j  Withrow  "good  night," 
saying,  "  I  hope  you  will  think  better  of  this,"  and 
withdrew. 

As  yet,  since  the  commencement  of  his  convales- 
cence, Withrow  had  not  appeared  in  the  family-circle 
outside  the  confines  of  his  own  room.  Early  next 
morning,  he  appeared  at  his  toilet,  preparatory  to  his 
joining  them  at  the  breakfast-table.  He  was  in  the 
drawing-room  sometime  before  the  family  reached  it, 
and  upon  their  entry  was  very  cordially  met  by  the 
ladies,  as  well  as  the  Colonel.  A  few  moments  inter- 
vening, breakfast  was  announced,  and  Withrow  offer- 
ing his  arm  to  Miss  Eayford,  said,  "allow  me  the 
honor,"  and  taking  a  position  in  rear  of  the  company, 
they  were  the  last  seating  themselves  at  the  table. 

During  the  whole  repast  a  conviviality  of  sentiment 
was  expressed  and  interchanged,  partaking  of  anec- 
dote, drollery  and  wit ;  and  just  before  the  family  had 
risen  from  the  table,  Miss  Kayford,  addressing  With- 
row, said:  "  I  consider  you  yet  under  my  command, 
so  far  as  the  latter  part  of  the  instructions  of  Doctor 
Craigne  are  concerned  in  point  of  exercise.  The 
order  intended  for  your  observance  you  may  think  a 
strange  one,  as  coming  from  a  lady.  I  wish,"  she 
continued,  "  to  try  your  strength,  and  to  ascertain  its 
present  ability  in  ascending  to-day  the  '  Pebble  Peak,' 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  103 

or  in  other  words — that  spur  of  the  mountain,  (point- 
ing to  it  from  the  window,)  at  ten  o'clock  \ve  will 
attempt  it,  and  if  you  do  not  become  too  much  fatigued, 
can  gain  its  summit  by  eleven  ;  spend  two  hours  upon 
its  top,  and  be  here  at  three,  when  we  will  have  a  good 
appetite  for  dinner.  You  have  been  a  soldier,  and 
have  been  used  to  detailed  duty,  how  do  you  like  this 
in  contemplation  ?" 

"  I  can  never  be  controlled  by  a  commander  prized 
higher  than  the  one  whose  orders  I  have  just  heard, 
and  will  hold  myself  in  readiness  to  attend  you," 
replied  Withrow,  as  they  both  left  the  dining  room 
for  their  respective  apartments. 


CHAPTER  XIII, 

Happiness  is  within  the  reach  of  all,  and  its  attainment  is  in  proportion 
to  the  exertions  made  to  obtain  it. 

THE  "  Pebble  Peak,"  so  called  from  the  immense 
quantity  of  small,  and  variety  of  form,  as  well  as 
beautifully  colored  stones  interspersed  every  where 
over  it,  is  a  small  spur  of  that  magnificent  range  of 
mountains  which  divides  the  eastern  from  the  western 
waters  of  Virginia.  At  the  base  of  the  promontory, 
the  pine  tree  in  all  its  majestic  splendor  is  seen, 
towering  one  above  the  other,  in  almost  parallel 
lines,  until  reaching  the  summit,  a  splendid  grove 
presents  itself,  covering  an  almost  entire  level 
surface  of  the  mountain  for  nearly  three  hundred 
yards  in  length,  and  about  two  hundred  in  breadth. 


104:  THE    HEIRES.3ES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

At  the  point  from  w"hich  it  receives  its  offset  or 
bench,  and  emanating  from  the  main  chain  of  moun- 
tains, rises  a  spring,  bold  in  its  current,  its  water 
clear  as  crystal,  and  of  a  coldness  like  that  of  ice 
itself.  In  the  centre  of  the  grove,  and  in  a  serpentine 
direction,  that  limpid  stream  finds  its  way  to  the 
mountain's  brow,  where,  assuming  a  more  rapid 
course,  runs  falling  from  rock  to  rock,  until  it  is  lost 
in  the  still  more  large  and  rapid  stream  below. 
Near  the  spring  is  a  projection  of  rock  that,  in  its 
rude  state  represents  a  kind  of  table  about  four  feet 
square.  Close  to,  and  immediately  around  it,  are 
interspersed,  and  at  a  tolerably  equal  distance  from 
one  another,  fragments  of  broken  rock  about  the 
height  of  a  chair,  so  that  persons  seated  upon  them 
are  at  ease,  and  enabled  to  partake  of,  at  pleasure, 
the  refreshment  off  of  the  table.  These  rocks  are 
covered  with  moss,  the  green  appearance  of  which, 
at  a  few  yards  distance,  has  more  the  resemblance  of 
art  than  of  nature. 

That  delightful  spot  was  the  favorite  retreat  of  the 
Leftridge  family  during  the  spring  and  summer 
months,  and  where  they  not  unfrequently  met,  and 
often  by  accident,  with  those  of  their  neighbors,  who 
from  the  different  pathways  leading  to  and  from  the 
Peak,  were  often  upon  it,  unknown  to  one  another. 

At  the  appointed  hour  Withrow  was  upon  the 
piazza,  near  the  entrance  of  the  door  entering  into 
the  dining-room,  where  he  had  a  few  hours  before 
parted  with  Miss  Rayford. 

"  I  have  discovered  one  trait  in  your  character, 
Mr.  Withrow,  if  I  should  never  be  in  possession  of 
another,"  said  Miss  Eaybold,  as  she  came  walking 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERIXGAY.  105 

from  the  far  end  of  the  piazza  to  where  he  was,  "  and 
that  is  punctuality.  I  like  it ;  it  is  a  principle  upon 
which  good  is  predicated,  and  out  of  which  is  often 
derived  the  most  sanguine  expectations  as  well  as 
confirmations  of  our  dearest  hopes." 

"  I  am  honored  by  the  compliment  you  have  just 
conferred  upon  me;  and  am  happy  in  my  acquaint- 
ance with  one  whose  sentiments  seem  to  agree  so  well 
with  my  own ;  and  here  permit  me  to  offer,  by  way 
of  confirmation  of  what  is  the  first  and  highest  wish 
of  my  soul,  my  arm  in  assisting  you  to  the  top  of 
yonder  mountain,  of  which  you  have  so  often  spoken 
during  my  illness,"  replied  Withrow,  rather  more 
agitated  and  confused  than  otherwise. 

Julia,  discovering  his  embarrassed  situation,  quickly 
said,  "  Your  arm,  Mr.  Withrow,  is,  at  all  times  when 
required,  acceptable  to  me,  and  if,  on  the  present  oc- 
casion, your  gallantry  may  exceed  your  physical 
ability  to  assist  me  in  ascending  the  mountain,  you 
are  at  liberty  to  withdraw  your  aid." 

Thus  saying,  she  laid  her  arm  upon  his,  and  at  the 
end  of  the  next  hour  were  both  upon  the  top  of  the 
Peak  and  slowly  walking  up  the  grove. 

In  their  walk  Withrow,  amongst  other  subjects  of 
conversation,  adverted  to  his  recovery  of  health — the 
care  which  had  been  taken  of  him — the  obligations  he 
was  under  to  his  fair  companion  and  to  her  friends — 
and  of  the  necessity  he  was  under  to  leave  Fotheringay. 
He  said  that  while  he  had  been  a  resident  there,  that 
a  chain  of  circumstances  had  transpired  making  the 
recollection  of  it  lasting  as  life  itself,  and  one  incident 
particularly,  which  had  alternately  afforded  him  the 
highest  pleasure  as  well  as  greatest  pain. 


106  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

Julia,  construing  his  remarks  as  relating  to  his  late 
ill  health  and  that  of  his  long  distance  from  his  friends, 
to  which  he  would  sometimes  advert,  would  occasion- 
ally, in  her  gay,  sprightly  and  witty  humor,  interrupt 
him  in  order  to  dispel  the  tincture  of  melancholy 
which  seemed  now  and  again  to  accompany  his  ex- 
pressions. But  his  last  remark  struck  her  attentive 
ear  and  high-toned  soul  with  a  degree  of  surprise  to 
which  she  had  heretofore  been  a  stranger ;  and  with  a 
thought  vivid  as  lightning  and  a  countenance  grave 
as  that  of  a  philosopher,  though  expressive  of  the 
purity  and  excellence  of  the  best  of  hearts,  said:  "  I 
am  a  poor  expounder  of  inuendoes,  Mr.  Withrow, 
and  must  here  tax  your  gallantry,  heretofore  uniform 
as  it  has  been  graceful  and  natural  to  you,  for  a 
meaning  to  the  sentence  made  use  of  just  now?" 

"Withrow  understood  what  she  meant,  and  just  as 
he  had  promised  a  compliance,  to  be  given  before 
they  should  leave  the  Peak,  they  came  in  sight  of  the 
"table  rock." 

Upon  their  nearer  approach  they  discovered  several 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  some  seated  and  others  walking 
about  in  the  vicinity.  A  snow-white  table  cloth  had 
been  spread,  and  some  two  or  three  servants  were 
busily  engaged  in  arranging  upon  it  a  variety  of  cold 
meats  and  bread,  with  several  bottles  of  spirits  and 
wine,  with  other  material  of  the  pic-nic  order. 

"  There,"  said  "Withrow  with  surprise,  and  when 
they  had  got  within  a  short  distance  of  the  company, 
"  is  your  mother,  your  uncle,  and  Doctor  Craigne.  I 
had  not  the  most  remote  idea  of  meeting  with  them 
here  to-day.  The  other  ladies  and  gentlemen  with 
whom  they  are  surrounded  I  have  not  the  pleasure  of 


THE    HEIRESSES    OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  107 

knowing,  and  must  here,  in  my  turn,  lay  Miss  Bay- 
ford  under  explanatory  injunctions,  as  she  has  done 
her  humble  servant  a  few  moments  ago." 

"  At  present,"  replied  Julia,  with  a  pleasing  smile 
playing  upon  her  lips,  "  mystery  surrounds  you,  but 
I  here  give  you  my  obligations  to  solve  it,  and  that, 
too,  after  the  manner  of  your  promise  to  me — before 
leaving  the.  scene  now  opening  upon  your  view." 

At  the  close  of  her  remarks  Julia  and  Withrow  had 
just  joined  the  assemblage,  and  before  speaking  to  any 
one  else,  or  even  before  noticing  them,  putting  her 
fore-finger  across  her  lips,  cried  out,  "  Well,  Doctor, 
you  see  me  here  in  performance  of  the  last  act  of  my 
promise  to  you,  in-  that  of  giving  to  Mr.  Withrow  the 
benefit  of  mountain  air." 

"  I  pronounce  him  well,  now,  so  far,  at  least,  as 
relates  to  his  physical  organization ;  for  he  has  stood 
the  fatigue  of  coming  to  and  ascending  the  'Peak,' 
with  ease  to  himself,  and  a  great  deal  of  gallantry  to- 
wards me,  and  as  to  perturbation — the  remedy  con- 
templated, and  which  may  be  administered  to-day,  will, 
doubtless,  soon  make  him  entirely  himself  again." 

Then  turning  to  the  ladies  and  gentlemen,  before 
the  Doctor  or  Withrow  had  time  to  reply,  gave  him 
an  introduction  to  all,  saying : 

"Now  amuse  and  enjoy  yourself  while  I  go  and 
assist  my  mother  in  arranging  that  natural  table  (point- 
ing to  it)  for  yours  and  the  comfort  of  the  rest  of  the 
company." 

The  exuberance  which  met  his  eye,  and  that  sur- 
rounded him,  so  far  as  sight  would  give  an  impetus  to 
thought,  was  truly  gratifying  to  the  mind  of  Withrow, 
and  although  he  was  still  in  ignorance  of  why  the 


108  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY. 

greater  portion  of  the  Fotheringay  family  were  there, 
he  determined  to  participate  in  the  amusements  of  the 
day,  come  in  whatever  shape  they  might.  To  his 
near  acquaintances  he  was  polite  and  agreeable,  affable 
and  attentive,  and  to  those  of  the  family  more  like  a 
relative  than  otherwise. 

At  twelve  o'clock  the  whole  party  was  seated  upon 
Nature's  substitute  for  chairs,  surrounding  the  no  less 
excellent  one  as  a  table.  And  in  a  few  moments  after 
were  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  dinner,  not  sumptuous,  yet 
highly  palatable. 

The  gentlemen,  as  is  the  case  at  all  dining  parties, 
had  a  privilege  over  that  of  the  ladies,  in  the  partaking 
of  the  more  ardent  of  spirits:  yet,  when  the  goblets 
were  filled  by  the  juice  of  the  grape,  were  greeted  oc- 
casionally by  their  fair  companions  in  an  order  of 
sociality  highly  contributary  to  the  pleasures  of  the 
day.  One  hour  passed  in  that  way,  the  party  in  groups, 
begun  to  disperse,  and  were  in  a  short  time  soon  scat- 
tered upon  different  parts  of  the  grove. 

It  was  not  long  before  Withrow  and  Julia  followed 
the  example.  Mrs.  Rayford,  Debtor  Craigne,  Colonel 
Leftridge,  and  Miss  Craigne,  were  the  last,  except  Julia 
and  Withrow,  leaving  the  table  of  their  rural  repast. 
After  giving  some  instructions  to  the  servants,  they 
too  were  soon  alone  in  the  grove,  and  in  a  different  direc- 
tion from  that  taken  by  the  rest  of  the  company.  Near 
the  edge  of  the  eastern  side  of  the  "  Peak,"  is  a  ledge 
of  rocks,  rising  in  height  to  that  of  some  ten  feet ;  on 
the  top  stood  two  beautiful  spruce-pine  trees.  Their 
waving  foliage  afforded  a  dense  shade,  while  the  rus- 
tling of  the  breezes  as  they  passed,  bespoke  a  delightful 
place  for  reflection.  Our  two  friends  were  evidently 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  109 

at  that  time  in  a  thoughtful  mood,  for  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  monosyllables,  not  much  of  any  thing 
passed  between  them,  until  they  reached  the  rock  just 
spoken  of.  Here  Julia  proposed  the  taking  of  seats, 
which  was  readily  agreed  to  by  With  row. 

"  I  have  led  you  to  this  spot,"  resumed  she,  "  with 
a  view  to  your  promised  explanation  to  me,  of  a  part 
of  our  morning's  talk.  To  solve  your  meaning  of  the 
remark  that,  'a  chain  of  circumstances  had  alternately 
contributed  to  afford  me  (you)  the  highest  pleasure  as 
well  as  greatest  pain,'  has  occupied  no  small  share  of 
my  thoughts  to-day,  although  I  have  tried  to  be,  under 
their  influence,  as  was  my  duty,  lively  and  gay  towards 
all.  That  course  was  a  forced  one  by  me,  and  amongst 
the  ingredients  upon  which  a  troubled  fancy  has  been 
fed,  was  a  determined  intent  to  seize  the  first  fit  mo- 
ment to  draw  your  attention  to  it.  Your  intended  de- 
parture from  Fotheringay  is  what  I  have  no  right 
whatever  to  object  to.  But  for  you  to  go  from  us, 
under  the  least  appearance  of  a  known  disquietude 
of  mind,  is  a  source  of  great  unpleasantness  to  me  as 
it  would  be  to  my  family,  were  I  to  inform  them  of 
what  has  occurred  between  us,  in  the  early  part  of  this 
eventful  day,  and  in  your  walk  with  the  mountain 
girl,  who  is  now,  perhaps,  near  her  last  interview  with 
you.  Sophistry,  Mr.  Withrow,  is  no  part  of  my  na- 
ture, therefore,  for  the  sake  of  the  purity  of  my  friend- 
ship for  you,  tell  me  unequivocally,  on  this  lonely,  yet 
lovely  spot,  in  nature's  proud  array,  what  it  is  you 
had  reference  to  this  morning  ?  So  that,  if  pertaining 
to  me,  or  to  those  whose  blood  runs  in  my  veins,  I,  in 
their  stead,  and  they  will  ratify  my  course,  may  make 
such  concessions,  if  such  be  required,  as  will  at  least, 


110  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

be  a  contributary  to  your  future  happiness.  Not 
yet,"  she  continued,  as  Withrow  was  about  making  a 
reply.  "Hear  me,  until  I  shall  have  finished  my 
remarks.  A  promise  of  development  is  mutual  be- 
tween us.  Listen  to  me  with  attention,  and  I  pledge 
myself  for  a  return  of  the  like  compliment  when  it 
shall  have  become  your  time  to  be  the  speaker,  and 
myself  the  listener.  m 

"  It  is  now  two  years,"  continued  Julia,  "  since  I 
first  beheld  you,  and  a  little  less  than  that  time  since 
your  name  was  first  announced  to  me.  Your  first  ap- 
pearance as  a  soldier  in  the  mere  discharge  of  duty, 
had,  if  any,  but  little  incident  worthy  of  attraction  in 
it.  But  when  I  discovered  the  assiduity  with  which 
your  deportment  was  accompanied  toward  my  mother, 
grandmother,  and  myself,  I  could  not  but  admire  the 
high-toned  sense  of  gallantry,  united  with  compas- 
sionate feelings,  with  which  I  thought  the  English 
soldier,  as  I  then  termed  you,  was  possessed.  Nor 
was  I  the  only  one  impressed  with  that  opinion,  for 
in  it  I  was  accompanied  by  the  more  sage  and  more 
experienced  of  minds — in  the  persons  of  my  parents. 
The  alacrity  with  which  you  obeyed  their  requests, 
or  demands,  if  I  may  so  express  it,  for  you  were 
then  under  their  orders,  and  the  suavity  of  manner 
accompanying  the  discharge  of  your  respective  duties, 
contributed  greatly  to  prepossess  me  in  your  favor. 
And  when  I  was  informed  by  my  beloved  uncle,  that 
that  soldier  who  was  the  orderly  at  my  mother's  door, 
was  the  savior  of  his  life,  and  that,  too,  with  eminent 
peril  to  all  concerned  in  his  rescue,  every  impetus  to 
a  renewal  of  all  that  kind  of  respect  to  which  I  have 
just  adverted,  rushed  upon  my  mind.  Under  the  effu- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  Ill 

sion  of  the  purest  sentiments  of  gratitude  inhabiting 
a  woman's  heart,  I  have  once,  if  not  oftener,  to  my 
uncle,  in,  though  it  may  be  thought  flattering,  yet 
sincerely  entertained  terms,  spoken  of  you.  And 
when  informed  that  it  was  your  intention  to  come  to 
and  remain  some  time  at  Fotheringay,  must  confess 
that  it  gave  me  more  pleasure  than  I  could  then  or 
even  now  can  express.  Since  that  intimation  was 
given,  I  have  known  nothing  with  regard  to  him  who 
is  now  before  me,  nor  have  I  thought  of  anything,  if 
I  know  myself,  than  that  of  how  best  to  show  my  grati- 
tude to  you,  not  forgetting,  in  the  most  minute  degree, 
your  highly  esteemed  associates,  whenever,  if  at  all, 
a  personal  opportunity  may  afford  me  the  pleasure  of 
showing  it.  When  you  were  so  unfortunate  as  to  be- 
come an  invalid  amongst  us,  my  prayers  to  the  Al- 
mighty Disposer  of  human  events  were  for  your  re- 
covery ;  and  the  attentions  and  care  rendered  you  by 
me,  were,  to  her  now  speaking,  pleasing  auxiliaries  in 
trying  to  effect  it.  In  those  attentions  to  you,  upon  a 
»ick  bed,  I  may  have  been  too  often  remiss.  If  so, 
Attribute  them  not  to  a  want  of  inclination  to  comfort 
f  nd  please  you,  but  to  some  unintentional  derange- 
ment of  thought,  or  to  some  unavoidable  occurrences, 
serving  as  preventives  at  the  time.  I  have  often  seen 
you  sombre,  and  have  as  often  wished,  if  I  knew  how, 
to  relieve  you.  Upon  this  subject,  an  instance  at 
hand  is  fresh  in  my  recollection,  since  it  was  no  longer 
than  to-day,  as  we  were  ascending  the  Peak,  I  discov- 
ered you  ensconced  within  yourself,  and  apparently 
laboring  under  a  multiplicity  of  unhappy  reflections. 
Thinking  that  it  might  have  proceeded  from  that 
variety  of  imaginary  mishaps  which  you,  probably,  like 


112  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

others,  too  often  take  for  realities,  and  which  are  fre- 
quent causes  of  the  purchase  of  trouble  by  wholesale, 
and  that  in  advance,  I  attempted  to  avert  it,  by  a 
strain  of  volatility,  thanks  to  heaven,  natural  to  me, 
or,  in  other  words,  philosophy  teaches,  to  exercise 
beneficially  to  myself  as  well  as  to  those  for  whom  it 
may  be  intended. 

"  But  when  you  adverted  to  events  associated  with 
Fotheringay,  I  thought  its  inmates  immediately  con- 
cerned, and  in  my  own,  as  well  as  in  behalf  of  them 
to  whom  I  am  obediently  subject,  asked  at  your" 
hands,  what  it  was  you  had  reference  to  in  that  which 
you  perceive  has  much  weight  upon  my  mind  ;  as  I 
have  remembered  and  have  repeated  your  words. 
My  design  of  a  disclosure  of  my  feelings  is  now 
finished,  and  all  remaining  for  me  now  to  say  is,  that 
the  comments  made  upon  events  with  which  it  is  con- 
nected, have  not  been  intended  to  have  any  disagree- 
able effects  upon  you.  One  more  remark,  and  I  shall 
have  closed :  holding  myself  in  readiness  to  hear  you, 
that  is,  thus  the  lateness  of  the  hour  bespeaks  adjourn- 
ment from  the  Peak  to  the  halls  of  Fotheringay, 
where,  after  having  heard  your  reply  to  what  has 
been  said  here,  I  shall  explain  the  mystery  adverted 
to  this  morning." 

In  a  short  time  our  two  friends  reached  head- 
quarters, or  in  other  words,  the  "  Table  Rock,"  where 
they  found  all  parties  about  making  a  retreat  to  their 
respective  homes. 

"As  they  approached  the  party,  Colonel  Leftridge 
said,  "  Well,  Withrow,  your  timely  return  to  our 
temporary  camp  has  saved  you,  as  you  remarked  to 
Major  Laurence  on  a  former  and  far  more  intricate 


THE  HEIEE3SES  OF   FOTHERINGAY.  113 

occasion  than  the  present  one,  the  '  danger  of  not  only 
being  censured,  but  that  of  being  court-martialled.' " 
Then  looking  adroitly  at  him,  as  well  as  to  Julia,  he 
continued,  "  your  judge  advocate,  however,  is  an  able 
one ;  upon  whom,  doubtless,  you  have  great  reliance, 
and  by  whom  your  innocence  of  charges  preferred, 
will  be  ably  sustained,  and  your  acquittal  strongly 
urged." 

"  You  do  me  much  honor,  Colonel,"  replied  With- 
row,  "  you  are  Commander-in-chief  here,  and  have 
highly  favored  me,  in  assigning  for  any  defence 
against  errors  I  may  have  made,  so  able  and  so  highly 
an  esteemed  advocate  as  Miss  Rayford.  But  my  case 
is  a  more  difficult  one  than,  perhaps,  you  are  aware 
of,  and  should  I  fall  in  my  attempts  in  the  trial  now 
pending,  I  fear  I  shall  do  so  to  rise  no  more." 

"Never  fear  that,"  said  Miss  Craigne  and  Miss 
Lewis,  both  at  the  same  moment ;  and  who  had  just 
been  joking  Julia  upon  her  long  audience  and  absence 
from  them  since  dinner,  "  for  where  ladies  feel  and 
take  an  interest  favorable  to  gentlemen,  they  are  gen- 
erally successful  in  sustaining  the  cause  undertaken 
by  them." 

"  I  can  bear  witness  to  that,"  said  Doctor  Craigne, 
as  he  looked  smilingly  at  Miss  Lewis. 

"  Come,  Doctor,"  she  replied,  "  you  are  a  knowing 
one,  and  all  the  girls  in  the  neighborhood  had  better 
conclude  a  truce  with  you;  for  my  part,  I  make 
known  my  intentions  now." 

"  So  do  I,"  was  heard  from  some  dozen  voices. 

By  this  time  the  whole  party  were  in  a  social  glee, 
attacking  one  another  with  humorous  and  witty 
remarks,  upon  the  events  of  the  day ;  and  in  a  few 

8 


114  THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY. 

minutes  Mrs.  Eayford  and  some  three  or  four  more 
matrons  making  a  start,  all  were  seen,  in  quite  a  gay 
humor,  leaving  the  "  Pebble  Peak."  Upon  its  sum- ' 
mit  had  been  spent  a  day  of  pleasure  and  social  fes- 
tivity, giving  a  new  impetus  to  events  out  of  which 
grew  the  material  for  the  continuation  of  this  tale. 
With  it  I  have  tried  to  amuse  my  readers  thus  far, 
and  will  continue  my  humble  efforts,  should  they 
think  fit  to  follow,  and  give  me  their  attention  to  the 
end. 


CHAPTEK    XIV. 

Time  furnishes  the  record,  and  circumstances  the  matter  of  human  life. 

IT  was  sunset  ere  the  Leftridge  family  reached  their 
mansion,  and  when  "Withrow,  with  his  charge,  had 
gained  the  piazza  upon  which  he  had,  in  the  morning 
of  that  day,  assumed  the  province  of  a  gallant,  he 
courteously  bowed  to,  and  leaving  Julia,  repaired  to 
his  room,  from  whence,  in  the  next  hour,  a  servant 
attending,  he  was  called  to  tea.  As  if  the  resources 
and  zest  for  sociability  had  become  entirely  exhausted, 
there  was  but  little  passed  at  table,  and  in  short  time 
the  adieu  for  the  night  was  given,  and  each  one  retir- 
ing, were  soon  in  their  respective  apartments. 

At  breakfast  the  next  morning,  Leftridge  informed 
Withrow  that  he  had  some  business  matters  to  attend 
to,  causing  his  absence  from  home  for  some  time,  and 
that  in  the  interval,  he  desired  him  to  preside  ove* 
and  conduct  the  family  affairs  at  Fotheringay. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  115 

"In  domestic  routine,"  continued  Leftridge.  "you 
may  not  be  at  present  much  of  an  adept,  yet  in  the 
midst  of  such  counsel  as  those  with  whom  you  are 
DOW  surrounded,  it  will  give  me  no  concern,  other  than 
that  of  knowing  such  of  it  as  will  come  under  your 
purview  will  be  well  conducted." 

That  kind  of  province  was  as  much  unlocked  for 
by  Withrow  as  it  was  unexpected  by  him,  who  imme- 
diately attempting  a  decline  of  the  trust  reposed,  was 
soon  overruled  in  his  objections  by  the  ladies. 

"  You  do  not  mean  leaving  to-day?"  said  Withrow, 
as  the  family  arose  from  the  table. 

"Yes,  now,"  replied  the  Colonel,  "for  my  horse  is 
at  the  door.  You  know,"  continued  he,  "  that  we  who 
have  been  accustomed  to  be  ordered  and  to  order,  re- 
quire but  little  preparation  for  campaign,  and  much 
less  for  ordinary  busine'ss  journeys;"  So  saying,  he 
affectionately  impressed  a  kiss  upon  the  lips  of 
each  of  the  ladies,  gave  Withrow  a  cordial  shake  of 
the  hand,  when  mounting  a  fine  high-spirited  horse 
was  soon  out  of  sight  of  the  mansion  and  its  inmates. 

The  injunction  laid  upon  Withrow,  and  the  sudden 
departure  of  the  Colonel,  to  what  place  and  upon  what 
business,  both  unknown  to  him,  were  incidents  in- 
volving mystery,  as  well  as  they  were  beyond  his 
comprehension ;  and  feeling  too  much  delicacy  to 
make  enquiry  upon  them  from  any  one,  or  more  of  his 
now  adopted  charge,  he  entered  his  room,  where  a 
variety  of  thought  intruding  a .  retrospective  of  the 
past  and  present  events  occupied  his  mind. 

The  circumstances  to  which  he  had  the  day  before, 
been  an  observer — the  still  more  deep  interest  he  felt 
himself  mentally  a  participator  in,  with  regard  to  Miss 


116  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

Rayford's  partial  disclosure — and  the  now  new  sphere 
governing  his  movements,  were  matters  of  no  small 
momont  with  him ;  and,  while  thus  occupied  in  reflect- 
ing upon  them,  his  attention  was  arrested  by  a  tap  at 
his  door  and  entry  of  a  servant,  presenting  the  key  of 
the  library  apartment,  accompanied  by  the  following 
note : — 

"  Fotheringay,  Aug.  10th,  1784. 

"It  may  be  that  Mr.  Withrow  will  feel  and  expe- 
rience some  lonely  hours  during  the  absence  of  my 
son ;  to  guard  against  that,  and  to  afford  a  respite  to  a 
reality  of  such  apprehensions,  I  send  you  the  key  of 
the  Colonel's  library,  in  which  you  will  find  books 
serving  to  arouse  and  interest. 

'  Respectfully, 

'  MARY  LEFTRIDGE." 

"  Say  to  your  Mistress  that  I  am  greatly  obliged, 
and  will  avail  myself  of  her  kindness,"  was  the  only 
reply  he  could  make  before  the  seemingly  hurried 
reclosure  of  his  room  door  by  the  servant  took  place. 

What  means  this?  thought  Withrow,  as  he  laid 
the  laconic  epistle  upon  his  table  after  a  second  read- 
ing. Its  graphic  and  studied  style  augured  something 
out  of  the  reach  of  his  experience  upon  the  usual 
course  of  things  happening  at  Fotheringay  since  he 
had  become  a  sojourning  resident  of  it.  And  amidst 
the  reflection  to  which  he  was  at  the  present  crisis 
surrounded,  a  new  and  more  strong  incident  occupied 
his  imagination.  "This  key,"  said  he,  still  holding 
it  in  his  hand,  "may  answer  a  double  purpose,  in  not 
only  giving  me  access  to  books  for  my  amusement, 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERIXGAY.  117 

but  may,  also,  afford  some  clue,  solving  the  mystery 
which  now  surrounds  me." 

Unconscious  of  the  hour,  Withrow's  reverie  was 
for  the  second  time  intruded  upon,  by  a  re-entry  of 
the  servant  announcing  the  dining  hour.  His  mood 
for  repast  was  none  of  the  best,  but  not  forgetting 
his  deportment  as  a  gentleman  and  the  necessity  of 
being  always  agreeable  in  company,  especially  in  that 
of  the  society  of  ladies ;  after  a  short  consulting  of  his 
toilet,  he  was  soon  in  the  dining-room. 

Here  he  could  discover  nothing  but  a  continued 
routine  of  that  politeness  and  attention  with  which  he 
had  heretofore  met  from  the  family.  His  dislike  to 
inquisitiveness,  and  that  of  making  himself  busy  about 
the  affairs  of  others,  forbade  any  thing  like  that  of  re- 
mark relative  to  the  absence  of  the  Colonel ;  nor  did 
he  advert  to  the  note  of  Mrs.  Leftridge,  for  upon  those 
events  he  had  determined  to  wait  patiently  upon  time 
and  circumstances  to  solve  the  meaning  attached  to 
them. 

In  his  new  sphere  of  protector  of  the  family,  With- 
row  was  studiously  attentive,  and  in  order  to  answer 
the  expectation  looked  for  at  his  hands  by  his  absent 
friend,  he  industriously  applied  himself  to  the  domes- 
tic duties  assigned  him.  Instead  of  keeping  within 
his  room  and  acting  as  a  guest,  as  had  been  his  course, 
his  custom  now  was  to  rise  early  and  give  his  personal 
attention  to  the  respective  business  of  each  day.  Sys- 
tematic in  his  movements,  he  so  divided  his  time  as 
to  appropriate  a  portion  of  it  to  reading,  study  and 
recreation;  he  suffered  nothing  like  pleasure  to  in- 
trude upon  his  business — nor  business  to  interrupt 
his  time  for  pleasure. 


118  THE    HEIRESSES    OF    FOTHERINGAY. 

But  few  days  passed  at  Fotheringay  without  the  en- 
tertainment of  company — it  was  the  mansion  of  plea- 
sure of  the  then  "  Far  West,"  and  the  society  of  its 
immediate  neighborhood  was  of  the  best  order ;  that, 
united  with  the  social  nature  of  its  residents,  seemed 
to  infer  that  they  were  more  like  branches  of  one,  than 
of  separate  and  distinct  families.  Miss  Rayford  was  its 
luminary — her  amiable  qualities,  good  sense  and  re- 
fined manners  rendered  her  pleasing  to  all,  and  to 
know  her  was  to  admire  her. 

At  a  period  when  her  country  was  involved  in  war, 
and  struggling  for  liberty,  and  had  but  little  to  hope 
for  and  all  to  fear,  her  education  was  carefully  at- 
tended to  in  the  city  of  Charleston.  Here  her  mature 
age  and  beauty  attracted  the  attention  of  several  who 
preferred  their  claims  to  her  heart  and  hand.  As 
yet,  however,  their  honors  had  been  declined,  and 
now  among  the  mountains  of  Virginia,  she  had  already 
much  of  that  sort  of  attention  to  listen  to  and  dispose 
of  at  her  will. 

The  retiring  manners  and  aversion  to  conspicuous- 
ness  of  which  Withrow  was  possessed,  made  him  a 
mere  looker-on  and  silent  spectator  of  the  movements 
at  Fotheringay ;  and  only  when  urged  by  the  ladies 
of  the  family  would  he  appear  occasionally  amid  tfae 
circles  of  gayety  and  amusement  there.  His  natural 
gentility  attracted  the  attention  of  those  with  whom 
he  met,  and  added  much  to  the  social  parties  frequent 
at  the  mansion.  In  one  of  those,  and  a  few  momenta 
after  his  appearance  in  the  parlor,  he  discovered  Miss 
Rayford,  surrounded  by  several  ladies  and  gentlemen 
with  whom  he  was  as  yet  unacquainted;  and  judging 
himself,  from  the  incidental  glances  of  their  eyes  upon 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  119 

him,  to  ba  the  subject  of  conversation,  found  relief  by 
joining  Mrs.  Leftridge,  who  was  seated  at  a  short  dis- 
tance from  him. 

"  You  must  dance  to-night,  Mr.  Withrow,"  said  she, 
"  and  make  for  yourself  a  more  general  acquaintance 
with  the  ladies  of  this  section  of  the  country,  prepara- 
tory to  another  particular  and  more  interesting  occa- 
sion of  this  kind." 

"To  what  have  you  reference,  madam?"  asked 
Withrow. 

"The  present,"  said  she,  "is  not  the  time  for  ex- 
planation. Do  as  I  have  said  you  ought,  to-night, 
and  if  events  do  not  develop  my  reasons,  I  will  solve 
them." 

At  this  moment,  another  set  was  being  made  up  to 
take  the  floor,  and,  seeing  Miss  Lewis  disengaged, 
Withrow,  bowing,  took  her  hand,  and  led  her  to  their 
place  in  it. 

He  had  not  spoken  to  Miss  Rayford  that  evening, 
but  being  in  the  same  set,  incidental  light  remarks 
passed  between  her,  Miss  Lewis,  and  himself.  Pro- 
miscuous in  his  attentions,  he  danced  but  once  with 
Miss  Rayford ;  and,  from  his  'general  demeanor,  no 
one  could  discover  anything  like  preference.  This 
had  been  talked  of  in  the  neighborhood,  growing  out 
of  the  events  at  the  "  Pebble  Peak :"  nor  was  this 
impression  confined  alone  to  the  ladies  and  gentlemen 
of  Miss  Rayford's  immediate  acquaintance,  for  it  had, 
like  all  other  love  matters,  been  transferred  to  a  dis- 
tance as  a  fact,  even  before  the  parties  concerned  were 
sure  of  it  themselves. 

Withrow,  in  accordance  with  previous  arrange- 
ments, and  associated  with  the  matrons  of  Fotherin- 


120  THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

gay,  had  done  the  honors  of  the  evening,  and  after 
supper,  at  a  late  hour,  the  spacious  and  thronged  par- 
lors were  vacated;  and  each  of  the  few  who  remained 
there  for  the  night,  retired  to  whatever  of  repose  they 
might  have  after  an  evening  of  amusement  and 
pleasure. 

It  was  near  the  commencement  of  that  season  when 
the  lengthy  nights  afforded  inducements  for  pleasure, 
and,  as  was  the  custom  of  that  section,  the  families 
of  the  neighborhood  gave  and  returned  parties  to 
each  other  in  successive  order.  Thus  was  sociability, 
harmony,  and  true  hospitality,  practiced  at  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  Fotheringay. 

This  state  of  things,  however,  was  to  be  intruded 
upon,  and  the  pleasures  there  marred  by  a  variety  of 
events.  Being  a  resident  in,  and  the  intimacy  exist- 
ing between  himself  and  the  Leftridge  family,  With- 
row  was  the  constant  attendant  of  Miss  Rayford ;  if 
she  rode  out  for  recreation  and  pleasure,  he  attended 
her ;  and  on  all  occasions  of  visiting,  as  well  as  that 
of  her  attending  balls  and  parties,  his  services  were 
called  into  requisition. 

The  reasons  why  the  "  English  gentleman,"  as  he 
was  generally  termed  by  those  of  his  (as  yet  limited) 
acquaintance,  was  a  resident  at  Fotheringay,  were 
known  to  none  save  the  Craigne  family,  the  discretion 
of  which,  united  to  their  usually  sound  judgment, 
made  gossipping  and  tattling  inclinations  to  meddle 
with  the  affairs  of  others,  unauthorized,  obnoxious  to 
them.  "Why  he  was  there,  and  the  circumstances 
giving  rise  to  his  acquaintance  with  the  Colonel  and 
his  family,  had  been  the  only  particular  request  made 
by  Withrow  to  be  kept  with  them:  and  in  speaking 


THE   HEIRESSES    OF   FOTHERINGAY.  121 

one  evening  to  the  family,  soon  after  his  arrival  at 
Fotheringay,  upon  that  subject,  he  said :  "  Man's  best 
acts  are  but  too  often  misconstrued ;  malice,  hatred, 
and  revenge  are  their  commentators,  in  the  minds  of 
many  to  whom  they  may  become  known.  For  my 
own  part,  if  I  am  capable  of  good,  and  perform  it  to 
the  happiness  of  others,  I  prefer  them,  and  them 
alone  to  know  it.  Befaer  be  judged  by  few  in  thia 
world,  as,  in  the  next,  one  unerring  Judge  presides 
over  the  motives  and  actions  of  all !"  adding — 

"  Happiness,  secure  from  every  toil, 
Is  what  we  cannot  here  expect ; 
This  world's  a  bother  and  turmoil, 
And  we  ourselves  neglect." 

During  the  occurrences  passing  at  and  around 
Fotheringay,  Withrow  had  no  time  to  avail  himself 
of  his  privileged  access  to  the  library,  nor  to  think 
much  of  things  with  which  he  had  now  found  himself 
personally  concerned.  The  promised  audience  of 
Miss  Rayford — her  agreed-to  explanation  of  some  of 
the  events  passing  upon  the  "  Pebble  Peak" — her  pro- 
traction of  that  promise ;  and  his  to  explain  the  allu- 
sion made  to  her  there  ; — the  appearance  of  mystery 
involved  in  the  words  of  Mrs.  Leftridge,  on  the  night 
of  the  party; — the  meaning  of  the  note  to  him,  and 
the  singular  and  unaccounted-for  absence  of  Colonel 
Leftridge,  had  begun  to  attract  his  serious  attention, 
and  were  all  passing  in  rapid  review  before  him. 

One  thought  quickly  succeeds  another  when  sus- 
pense portrays  an  almost  blank  conclusion  upon  cer- 
tainty. In  this  humor,  and  not  knowing  how  to  gain 
relief  from  such  a  connection  of  ideas,  Withrow  en- 


122  THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERIXGAY. 

tered  the  library  a  few  moments  after  dinner,  one  day 
when  there  happened  to  be  no  company  at  the  man- 
sion, and  in  the  absence  of  the  lady  inmates  who  had 
gone  that  day  to  spend  it  with  the  Lewis  family. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

When  our  intentions  ore  pure,  there  is  an  innate  silent  approval  within 
that  makes  us  easy. 

THE  library  apartment  was  a  large  room  situated  in 
the  east  end  of  the  building,  and  led  to  by  a  spacious 
passage  from  the  parlor  to  its  folding-door.  From 
the  second  floor  of  the  building  a  winding  stairway, 
led  to  a  room  adjoining,  from  which  another  small 
door  opened  upon  a  full  view  of  the  library.  On  en- 
tering it,  the  first  thing  that  excited  Withrow's  atten- 
tion was,  that  of  there  being  a  fine  fire  in  it,  and  the 
room  comfortably  warm.  The  evidence  before  him 
produced  the  belief  that  there  were  more  keys  than 
one  to  that  apartment,  and  upon  seeing  the  private 
door  he  was  convinced  that  others  beside  himself, 
were  in  possession  of  the  means  of  access — to  that 
treat  of  literature  and  research.  The  room  had  on 
its  floor  an  elegant  and  richly  variegated  carpet:  from 
the  four  large  windows  affording  light  to  the  apart- 
ment were  gracefully  suspending,  curtains  of  a  supe- 
rior quality,  while  near  the  centre  of  the  room  stood  a 
beautifully  carved,  large  mahogany  table.  Upon  it 
was  lying  in  promiscuous  order  several  volumes  of 
historical,  standard  and  poetical,  with  some  periodical 


THE   HEIRESSE3   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  123 

and  light  works.  Near  the  centre  of  the  table  were 
two  cases,  one  containing  a  violin,  the  other  a  flute ; 
both"  of  which  were  of  the  best  order.  For  some  time 
Withrow  attentively  surveyed  the  scenes  presented  to 
his  view  in  that  new  sphere  of  his  privilege;  and, 
after  walking  around  the  room  alongside  of  the  re- 
spective shelves  containing  the  innumerable  volumes, 
enclosed  by  large  sliding  glass  doors,  he  approached 
an  arm  chair,  the  appearance  of  which  displayed  the 
genuine  and  workmanlike  taste  of  its  maker.  It  was 
massive,  and  partook  of  the  same  material  as  that  of 
the  table,  and  some  six  small  chairs  that  were  arranged 
in  genteel  order,  throughout  the  apartment.  This 
chair,  thought  he,  drawing  it  more  close  to  the  fire, 
and  alongside  of  the  table,  is  doubtless  an  old  relic  of 
this  meritorious  family,  and  in  its  descent,  none  have 
ever  been  more  worthy  of  it,  than  its  present  owners. 

Thus  thinking,  and  carelessly  throwing  himself  into 
it,  he  opened  the  case  of,  and  took  the  violin  from  it. 

"It  is  long,"  said  he  to  himself,  "since  I  have 
touched  an  instrument  of  music  of  any  kind,  my  own 
violin  and  flute  have  both  been  long  neglected,  and 
the  present  opportunity  is  favorable  to  my  attempt, 
while  it  will  have  a  tendency  of  relief  from  affairs  that 
are  now  pressing  but  too  heavily  upon  my  mind." 

Having  tried  both  instruments,  and  after  playing 
the  two  national  airs  of  America,  his  attention  was 
soon  drawn  to  a  pile  of  pieces  of  music-books  lying 
on  a  small  table  a  few  steps  distant  from  the  private 
entry  door. 

Regardless  of  the  passing  time  and  the  gradual  de- 
cline of  the  sunny  rays  that  gilded  the  lofty  peaks  of 
the  surrounding  mountains,  Withrow  was  too  intent 


124  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY/. 

upon  the  pleasures  music  affords  to  the  soul  to  notice 
anything  not  thought  of  nor  at  all  expected.  The 
ladies  had  returned,  and  no  one  knowing  anything  of 
him,  except  that  he  had  not  been  seen  since  he  had 
dined,  excited  some  surprise. 

"  Is  there  a  fire  in  my  study-room  ?"  inquired  Miss 
Rayford  of  a  servant.  And  being  answered  in  the 
affirmative,  she  went  to  it  for  the  purpose  of  answer- 
ing a  letter  that  day  received  from  her  uncle.  The 
apartment  here  alluded  to,  was  the  one  already  men- 
tioned as  adjoining  the  library,  and  upon  Julia's 
nearer  approach  to  it  the  sound  of  music,  in  low  under 
tones,  fell  upon  her  ear.  "  What  means  this?"  thought 
she,  as  with  cautious  step  and  uncertain  mind  she  en- 
tered her  favorite  room.  "  Surely  that  music  proceeds 
from  the  library,  and  by  what  unknown  performer  it 
is  made  is  truly  strange,  as  he  who  usually  amuses 
himself  there  is  now  far  away.  No  one  is  now  at  the 
mansion  who  performs  upon  the  instruments  in  that 
room,  and  this  intruder,  whoever  he  may  be,  has  gained 
his  access  there  in  some  improper  way,  and  usurped 
a  privilege  my  uncle  would  not  sanction  if  he  were 
now  here." 

Being  in  ignorance  of  the  privileged  access  of  With- 
row  to  the  library,  and  equally  as  much  so  of  his 
knowledge  of  music — the  thought  that  it  might  be 
him  had  not  for  a  moment  entered  her  imagination. 
A  stranger  to  timidity  and  fear,  and  always  collected 
and  firm,  Julia  resolved  upon  solving  the  mystery, 
and  to  ascertain  from  what  source  the  fine  tones  upon 
the  flute,  just  succeeding  those  which  she  had  heard  a 
little  before  on  the  violin,  emanated.  At  this  conclu- 
sion her  purpose  was  arrested  by  the  commencement 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHEKINGAY.  125 

of  the  "  March  in  the  Battle  of  Prague,"  and  after  lis- 
tening to  it  and  its  variations  for  some  time,  she 
slowly  and  cautiously  moving  the  lock-bolts  of  her 
door  was  soon  in  full  view  of  Withrow,  standing  with 
his  face  fronting  an  opposite  direction  from  her. 

Her  surprise  was  of  that  order  partaking  of  pleasure 
and  mixed  with  a  peculiar  feeling  of  delight.  For  a 
few  moments  she  stood  motionless  and  intently  listen- 
ing, when,  just  at  the  time  he  was  finishing  the  piece, 
which  had  long  been  a  favorite  of  hers,  she,  stepping 
up  to  where  he  was  and  placing  her  hand  upon  his 
shoulder,  said, 

"It  is  not  often  that  ladies  usurp  the  prerogative 
of  arrest,  and  that  of  making  captives;  such  feats  are 
the  peculiar  province  of  your  sex — but  on  the  pre- 
sent occasion,  know  yourself  my  prisoner,  and  that 
lenity  will  rest  in  my  bosom  for  one  like  you.  Did  I 
not  know  you  as  I  do  this  privilege  would  not  have 
been  taken ;  excuse  my  volatility  and  intrusion  upon 
your  amusement  and  pleasure." 

Withrow  was  equally  as  surprised  as  gratified  at  an 
event  so  unexpected  to  himself  as  to  his  fair  compa- 
nion, and  upon  attempting  a  reply  to  her  compliment, 
was  interrupted  by  Miss  Rayford  in  the  remark  of, 

"  Come,  let  us  go  to  tea,  after  which  we  will  return 
to  this  apartment."  Leading  the  way,  and  passing 
through  her  study  room,  where  Withrow,  noticing  a 
piano-forte,  said, 

"And  you,  too,  I  presume,  are  a  performer?" 

"Yes,"  she  replied,  "I  sometimes  play  upon  that 
instrument,  which  will  in  a  few  days  be  removed  to 
the  parlor,  where  I  hope  another  accompaniment  will, 
for  the  time  being  at  least,  supply  the  place  of  my 


126  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

uncle."  By  this  time  they  had  gained  the  top  of  the 
stairway,  and  in  a  few  moments  after  were  in  the 
dining-room. 

A  social  exchange  of  remarks  upon  the  incidents 
just  noticed  were  passed,  and  soon  Miss  Rayford  and 
"Withrow  were  again  in  the  library,  which  had,  by  her 
orders,  been  illuminated  by  lights  from  a  splendid 
chandelier,  and  made  comfortable  by  a  good  fire. 

"Ah!"  said  Julia,  as  they  were  seating  themselves 
at  the  table,  and  seeing  the  volume,  "I  perceive  yon 
have  been  reading  the  'Iliad;'  have  you  not?" 

"  Yes,"  replied  Withrow,  "  Homer  is  a  favorite  au- 
thor with  me." 

"  So  far,  then,"  replied  Julia,  "  a  congeniality  of 
taste  exists  between  us,  and,  if  found  to  continue  and 
increase  upon  that  which  I  have  but  by  accident  dis- 
covered this  evening,  we  may  have  a  delightful  time 
of  it  yet  at  Fotheringay ;  and  the  lonely  hours  which 
this  mountainous  region  sometimes  casts  around  us, 
be  dispelled  by  (in  some  measure)  an  equal  exertion 
on  our  parts  to  amuse  and  interest  each  other.  For 
my  own  part,  I  love  retirement;  if  properly  used 
gives  a  true  relish  for  occasional  mirth,  and  after  hav- 
ing mixed  in  and  with  gayety  and  frolic,  such  as  you 
have  been  lately  a  participator  of  in  this  section,  I 
enjoy  much  of  the  sweets  of  home  in  returning  to 
this,  and  (pointing  to  her  study-room)  that  apartment. 
As,"  she  continued,  "  you  have  been  reading  the  de- 
scriptive of  Homer,  you  are,  doubtless,  prepared  to 
receive  some  account  complimentary  of  yourself  from 
me,  which  I  have  with  much  pleasure  learned  to-day. 
But  I  am  negligent,  and  must  leave  you  for  the  pre- 
sent and  go  into  my  study,  there  to  spend  one  half 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHEKINGAY.  127 

hour  in  writing  to  my  uncle,  after  which  I  will  re- 
turn to  you." 

"  Do  not  leave  me  thus,"  said  Withrow,  "  till  you 
have  told  me  what  you  have  done  me  the  honor  to 
say,  you  have  heard  of  me  to-day." 

"  Duty  first,  and  pleasure  next,"  replied  Julia, 
placing  her  forefinger  across  her  lips;  and  bowing 
gracefully  to  him,  walked  into  the  adjoining  room. 

For  the  intervening  time,  Withrow's  anxious  hopes 
were  frustrated ;  the  moments  within  that  half  hour 
seemed  to  pass  as  if  they  were  as  many  half  hours 
instead  of  minutes,  and  any  attempt  to  amuse  himself 
was  totally  lost.  He  had  for  several  weeks  previous 
determined  upon  taking  the  first  opportunity  offering 
to  know  definitely  the  position  he  occupied  before  and 
in  the  mind  of  Miss  Eayford ;  and  to  avail  himself  of 
a  conversation  with  her  that  evening  upon  it,  was 
now  his  entire  thought  and  intention.  At  length  the 
half  hour  was  expended,  and,  in  accordance  with  her 
promise,  Julia  re- entered  the  library,  and  took  the 
chair  formerly  occupied  by  her.  As  she  resumed  it, 
she  said : 

-  "  Now,  Mr.  Withrow,  since  my  duty  has  been-  per- 
formed, I  have  returned  to  give  you  an  audience,  and 
to  tell  you,  in  this  favorite  room,  what  I  have  heard 
of  my  friend,"  (giving  the  word  a  peculiar  emphasis 
as  she  spoke);  adding,  "there  are  few  who  deserve 
that  title ;  and  of  that  few,  you  stand  first  in  my  es- 
teem. It  is  pleasant,"  she  continued,  "  to  hear  one's 
name  made  use  of  when  the  comments  arise  from 
known  'sources  of  genteel  and  correct  deportment, 
whether  in  yours  or  my  sex.  With  the  vain  and  un- 
reflecting, such  comments,  but  too  often,  have  an  over- 


128  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

balanced  sway:  but  in  mmds  like  his  to  whom  I  am 
now  speaking,  they  can  have  no  other  influence  than 
that  which  merit  is  always  capable  of  receiving,  and 
keeping  within  proper  bounds.  To-day  I  have  spent, 
to  sunset  hour,  with  my  much  esteemed  and  intimate 
friend,  Adelaide." 

Withrow  had  been  till  that  moment  ignorant  of 
the  given  name  of  Miss  Lewis,  and  at  the  mention  of 
the  name  "Adelaide,"  an  expression  of  gloom  per- 
vaded his  just  before  sprightly  countenance.  For  a 
moment  he  seemed  enveloped  in  abstract  thought, 
and  so  much  so  as  to  appear  forgetful  that  he  was  in 
the  presence  of  Julia. 

"  Why  so  sombre?"  said  she;  "has  anything  that 
I  have  said  caused  it  ?" 

"  Excuse  the  interruption  given  to  your  kind  inten- 
tions; the  thought  that  caused  my  gloom  has  now 
passed,  and  I  will  again  be  your  attentive  hearer," 
replied  Withrow. 

"That,"  continued  Julia,  "is well  enough;  but  it  is 
my  wish  to  be  better  satisfied.  Surely,  something 
more  than  I  have  usually  noticed,  is  the  matter  with 
you;  some  remark  from  me,  perhaps,  has  touched 
some  chord  of  tender  remembrance.  If  so,  and  I  am 
worthy  of  your  confidence,  tell  me  what  it  is,  that  I 
may  be  more  guarded  in  future  interviews  with  you." 

Here  both  were  silent  for  some  moments,  when 
"Withrow  replied : 

"  That  you  are  more  than  worthy  of  my  confidence- 
is  among  that  class  of  unerring  truths  which  will  ever 
mark  my  course  toward  you ;  and  here,  let  it  suffice 
for  the  present,  that  you  shall,  at  a  time  not  far  dis- 
tant, know  the  cause  of  it." 


TIJE    HEIRESSES    OF  FOTHERINGAY.  129 

"  Your  promise  is  sufficient,  and  I  shall  now  pro- 
ceed," said  Julia.  "  Miss  Lewis  and  I  were  nearly 
all  day  in  her  own  room,  where  much  of  that  kind 
of  comment  usual  among  young  ladies,  and  more 
especially  between  us  as  friends,  occupied  our  minds. 
A  review  of  the  past  and  present  were  the  topics  of 
remark,  and  here,  let  me  add,  something  of  the  future 
was  dwelt  upon  in  perspective  with  us.  Among 
those  whose  names  were  mentioned,  were  several 
gentlemen  who  have  appeared  and  moved  before  as 
satellites.  In  that  review,  their  virtues  and  their 
foibles  were  duly  compared  ;  the  '  Stranger  at  Fother- 
ingay,'  as  you  are  termed,  passed  through  a  like 
ordeal;  upon  him  many  complimentary  remarks 
have  been  made  by  ladies  whom  you  have  seen  and 
become  acquainted  with  here.  Amidst  this,  how- 
ever, you  have  your  enemies,  in  that  of  mine,  as  well 
as  in  your  own  sex,  before  some  of  whom,  your  sincere 
friend,  Miss  Lewis,  nobly  defended  you  a  few  days 
since.  Thus  have  you  known  the  position  you 
occupy  in  the  circle  of  society  here;  of  the  opinions 
entertained  of  you  ;  and  all  I  shall  now  add  is,  that 
the  present  and  the  future  must  alone  furnish  the 
material  from  which  your  conclusions  are  to  be 
derived." 

At  that  moment  the  .library  clock  announced  the 
hour  of  ten,  and  as  Julia  arose  from  her  chair  to 
retire,  Withrow  said, 

"  I  have  one  boon  to  ask,  and  that  is,  that  you  will 
grant  me  the  pleasure  of  an  interview  in  this  apart- 
ment to-morrow  morning  ?" 

"  At  what  time?"  said  Julia. 
9 


130  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"  That  which  most  suits  your  convenience,"  was 

the  reply. 

"If  so,  at  ten  I  shall  be  with  you  here." 

Thus  saying,  she   bowed  to,   and  left  him,  when 

Withrow  soon  after  withdrew  to  his  room.  > 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

Candor  is  the  anchor  of  Hope,  and  Hope  the  companion  of  Constancy. 

THERE  are  but  two  ingredients  of  the  heart  deserv- 
ing the  name  and  title  of  purity — first,  a  sincere 
service  of,  and  devoted  obedience  to,  the  commands 
of  the  Most  High  I  that,  and  that  alone,  prepares  man 
for  every  vicissitude  of  life,  determines  a  proper 
discharge  of  duty,  and  makes  man  what  he  was 
designed  to  be — an  ornament  of  the  Creation.  The 
other  is,  his  devotion  to,  and  choice  of,  the  friend  of 
his  bosom.  In  that  connection  it  is  beneath  the 
dignity  of  man  to  appear  and  act  otherwise  than  with 
affection,  kindness  and  'constancy,  since  from  the 
opposite  too  often  proceeds  irreparable  discord,  fol- 
lowed by  jealousy,  distrust,  hatred  and  revenge,  with 
an  entire  subversion  of  all  that  happiness  which 
ought  to  characterize  the  marriage  estate.  With 
these  views  Withrow  entered  the  library,  and  on  the 
following  morning,  at  the  time  appointed,  Julia, 
making  her  appearance,  said : 

"  You  see  the  regard  I  entertain  for  punctuality — 
the  disposition  I  have  to  oblige  my  friends,  and  the 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  131 

inclination  thus  manifested  to  hear  what  he  has  to 
say  this  morning  to  the  '  mountain  girl.' " 

As  she  spoke,  and  with  a  pleasing  smile  accom- 
panying her  words,  she  took  a  chair  by  the  table,  not 
far  from  the  one  occupied  by  "With row,  who  replied : 

"  This  is  not  the  first  time  that  I  have  had  a  proof 
of  your  regard  for  punctuality.  The  happy  morning 
on  which  we  ascended  the  '  Pebble  Peak,'  convinced 
me  of  its  influence.  And  it  is  now,  by  your  permis- 
sion, that  I  shall  advert  to  events  of  that  day's 
pleasure,  to"  circumstances  and  thoughts,  previous  as 
well  as  since,  to  which  it  gave  rise." 

"  You  remind  me,"  said  Julia,  "  of  a  mutual  promise 
given  to  one  another  there,  and  so  far  as  I  am  con- 
cerned, I  shall  on  the  present  occasion  fulfil  mine  to 
you." 

"  For  your  recollection  of  it  I  am  thankful,  and  when 
you  shall  have  heard  me,  your  will  shall  be  my 
pleasure,"  replied  Withrow. 

Here  he  adverted  to  Julia's  quotation  of  his  remark, 
on  the  day  of  their  visit  to  the  "  Pebble  Peak."  "That 
remark,"  said  he,  "  has  lost  none  of  the  weight  of  its 
intended  meaning,  and  the  reasons  why  it  was  made 
were  the  hospitable  reception  with  which  I  had  met 
here;  the  kind  attentions  paid  me  when  I  was  a  help- 
less dependent ;  and  exalted  mind  of  my  then,  as  well 
as  now,  fair  associate  for  the  first  time,  (excuse  my 
presumption)  inspired  me  with  the  passion  of  love  for 
you.  Your  rank  and  standing  compared  with  that  of 
his,  who  has  heretofore  been,  and  as  he  still  is,  but  a 
stranger  to  you  and  to  those  from  whom  you  have 
descended,  forbid  in  me  the  encouragement  of  such  a 
thought — I  fled  it — but  the  stronger  my  exertions 


132  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

•were  to  do  so — the  greater  the  impetus  to  its  influence 
over  me.  Finding  no  relief  from  it — and  its  rapid 
increase  from  the  daily  interviews  had  with  you,  my 
only  alternative  was — a  determined  intent  to  leave 
Fotheringay,  and  in  doing  so,  endeavor  to  remember 
its  owners  as  my  only  true  friends,  and  Miss  Rayford 
as  first  as  well  as  last  in  my  affections.  Sometimes, 
when  in  your  company,  incidental  remarks  from  you 
induced  the  belief,  that,  if  made  known,  my  attach- 
ment might  be  reciprocated  ;  but  when  your  gay  and 
animated  humors  passed  in  review,  before  me,  I  looked 
upon  them  as  tributes,  not  due  and  obligatory,  but 
conferred  at  will,  upon  those  who  moved  around  you. 
It  was  at  those  times,  that  '  /  felt  alternate  pleasure 
and  pain  ;'  the  first,  because — I  loved — the  next — 
because  I  could  not  obtain  the  one  possessing  in  so 
eminent  a  degree,  the  qualities  with  which  you  are 
endowed. 

"  Here  the  requirements  enjoined  upon  me  on  the 
Peak  are  complied  with.  That,  however,  is  not  all  I 
designed  making  a  disclosure  of.  A  further  develop- 
ment of  who  and  what  I  am,  is,  in  my  humble  opinion, 
not  only  due  to  your  relatives,  but  imperatively  so  to 
you,  and  that  in  connection  with  a  few  particular  inci- 
dents, coming  under  my  notice  while  here,  and  of 
which  I  am  to  speak,  I  ask  your  further  indulgences 
upon.  So  that,  when  I  shall  leave,  perhaps  for  ever,  this, 
to  me,  hallowed  region  you  will  confer  upon  him,  now 
before  you,  the  title  at  least  of  an  honorable  man,  and 
remember  him  as  such.  Do  not  consider  me  as  having 
a  desire  to  privity  with  regard  to  your  family ;  that  is 
most  foreign  to  my  purpose,  but  so  far  as  a  partial 
connection  with  me  and  my  actions  here  are  concerned, 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  133 

I  think  you  will  accord  to  me  a  right  to  know  and 
understand  them.  Upon  them  I  had  never  intended 
to  speak,  unless  first  spoken  of  to  me,  and  the  necessity 
now  of  urging  it  with  regard  to  myself  is  the  only 
apology  I  can  offer  for  what  (if  it  may  be  considered 
so)  I  am  wrong  in  asking.  Of  this  I  have  selected 
you  as  my  judge,  knowing  as  I  do,  that  you  possess 
too  much  magnamimity  of  soul  to  refuse  my  request, 
and  too  classic  a  mind  to  dissemble  upon  what  I  ask 
at  your  discretion.  The  delay  of  your  promised  expla- 
nation— the  sudden  departure  of  your  uncle — the  duties 
required  of  me — the  laconic  note  of  your  grandmother, 
expressive  of  much,  and  that  much  involved  in  mys- 
tery to  me — her  equally  mysterious  remark  on  the 
night  of  the  last  party  here — the  supposition  on  my 
part,  formed  from  letters  I  have  frequently  been 
honored  in  bring  you  from  the  post-office,  that  your 
affections  were  engaged,  are  what  and  that  alone  I 
wish  to  have  a  clear  understanding  of." 

Here  a  momentary  pause  ensued,  when,  resuming 
his  remarks,  he  said — 

"  With  regard  to  myself,  no  one  knows  any  thing 
of  my  origin,  this  side  of  the  Atlantic ;  the  Ocean,  in 
its  terrific  as  well  as  in  its  placid  and  majestic  splendor, 
lies  between  me  and  all  to  whom,  by  consanguinity,  I 
am  held  in  fond  remembrance.  The  knowledge  of 
whether  I  have  an  existence  or  no,  is  not  theirs :  and 
the  only  crime  of  which  a  conscious  duty  to  them 
accuses  me,  and  of  which  I  have  been  but  too  emi- 
nently guilty,  will  be  presently  explained.  My  mother 
was  a  Grenville,  and  cousin  by  blood  to  that  champion 
of  American  liberty,  the  renowned  Pitt.  The  hurri- 
cane storm  of  oppression,  if  I  may  so  express  it, 


134  THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

•which  swept  over  the  heads  of  all  whose  sentiments 
were  favorable  to  this  beloved  country,  then  the 
oppressed  colonies  of  English  monarchy,  deprived 
many  of  their  birthright,  their  estates  and  their  homes. 
My  father  was  amongst  that  number,  who,  in  1760, 
found  his  estates  confiscated,  himself  ruined,  and  my 
beloved  mother,  'Adelaide,'  reduced  to  a  state  of 
dependence.  I  was  their  only  child,  and  then  in  my 
tenth  year.  Too  poor  to  make  his  escape  to  this 
1  Exile's  Asylum,'  my  father  soon  sunk  under  his  mis- 
fortunes, and  I  soon  became  fatherless,  and  my  mother 
a  widow.  Misfortunes  are  rarely  ever  single-handed, 
for  in  three  years  after  my  father's  fall  from  opulence 
and  its  acquirements,  I  was  removed  to  one  more 
grade  of  sorrow,  in  becoming  an  orphan.  My  educa- 
tion and  raising  were  attended  to  by  the  gentleman 
whose  name  I  have  just  mentioned,  and  for  whose 
kindne.ss  he  shall  ever  have  my  grateful  thanks. 

"  Silently  indignant  at  the  policy  of  my  government, 
and  with  a  perfect  indifference  as  to  what  might  be- 
come of  me,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  I  entered  the  army 
as  a  private,  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  my  friends. 
For  this,  I  had  two  predominant  motives — one,  a  hope 
that  my  existence  might  become  of  short  duration — 
the  other,  that,  if  not  killed  in  battle,  I  might  become 
wrecked  at  sea,  and  cast  upon  the  shore  of  some 
country  more  favorable  to  the  liberty  of  speech  and 
conscience,  than  that  which  gave  me  birth.  This 
ever-memorable  land,  has  afforded  the  latter,  and  that 
too  without  even  the  danger  of  trespass  upon  the 
fragments  of  a  vessel  or  a  wetting  from  the  briny 
wave ;  and  here  you  have  the  reasons,  why,  as  yet  I 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  135 

have  written  to  none  of  the  but  few  friends  I  have 
left  in  England. 

"  You  are  now  in  possession  of  a  knowledge  of  who 
the  'English  gentleman,'  as  I  arn  termed  is.  And 
after  one  more  remark  which,  I  hope,  will  not  be  one 
of  surprise,  I  shall  have  accomplished  the  purposes 
intended  in  this  interview,  and  then  rest  my  fate  upon 
your  decision.  Impoverished  by  circumstances  be- 
yond my  control,  I  have  no  wealth  to  offer,  but  I  have 
honor  and  a  devoted  heart,  both  are  yours,  to  accept 
of  or  refuse,  and  in  offering  these,  I  ask  your  heart 
and  hand,  if  they  are  not  to  another  engaged." 

During  Withrow's  recital,  the  allusions  made  to, 
and  declarations  of  his  suit,  Miss  Rayford's  listening 
faculties  were  attentively  engaged,  and  her  eyes  stea- 
dily fixed  upon  him.  At  its  close,  they  dropped  from 
its  centre  of  attraction ;  a  delicate  crimson  tint  mantled 
her  cheeks,  and  its  sway  there  creating  confusion, 
served  to  portray  in  nature's  loveliness,  one  of  the 
brightest  gems  of  woman — conscious  modesty.  In  the 
next  moment,  recovering  herself,  she  said : — 

"  I  hope  you  will  not  exact  from  me  at  the  present 
time,  a  reply  to  any  of  your  remarks.  There  are  but 
few  of  them  upon  which  I  am  at  all  at  liberty  to  speak, 
and  if  my  request  is  acquiesced  to  by  you,  I  take  the 
liberty  now  to  appoint  the  day  and  hour  on  which  we 
will  return  to  this  room  for  that  purpose — and  that 
day  is  the  second  from  this — and  the  hour,  the  same 
we  met  here  in  to-day." 

The  proposal  of  Miss  Rayford  was  readily  complied 
with,  and  our  two  friends  soon  after  entered  the 
parlor. 

"  Julia  and  you  have  been  quite  selfish  to-day,"  said 


136  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

Mrs.  Leftridge  to  With.ro w,  u  in  leaving  us  alone  since 
morning,  till  this  hour;  but,  as  I  am  always  disposed 
to  be  lenient  in  my  opinions  upon  the  acts  and  motives 
of  .youth  in  their  choice  of  society,  I  shall  do  myself 
the  pleasure  of  supposing  both  of  you  to  have  been 
pleasantly  engaged." 

"  I  venture  to  vouch  for  that,"  said  Mrs.  Rayford,  as 
her  mother  uttered  the  words,  "pleasantly  engaged" 
"  for  that  which  affords  a  genuine  zest  to  society,  is 
the  choice  of  topics,  and  the  interest  taken  in  them." 
The  remarks  of  Mrs.  Rayford  were  too  allusive  not  to 
carry  with  them  a  strong  supposition,  in  the  minds 
of  those  whom  they  concerned,  that  there  might  have 
been  a  discovery  of  what  they  had  been  at  that  day. 


CHAPTER   XYII 

A  well-balanced  mind  is,  to  its  possessor,  like  the  pendulum  to  the  clock, 
never  out  of  its  sphere. 

THE  next  morning,  at  an  early  hour,  Miss  Rayford 
entered  the  drawing-room,  where  she  found  the  ma- 
trons of  the  mansion  engaged  in  reading  some  papers 
and  letters  that  day  received  from  her  uncle. 

"  I  was  just  thinking  of  sending  for  you,  my  daugh- 
ter," said  Mrs.  Rayford,  "  and  am  glad  you  have  come, 
that  you  may  read  for  yourself  a  paragraph  that  con- 
cerns you." 

Thus  saying,  she  handed  Julia  a  letter  from  the 
Colonel. 

In  the  next  moment,  her  attention  was  drawn  to 


THE   IIEIKESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  137 

the  following  remarks :  "  I  was  not  aware  of  the  ex- 
citement to  respect  and  esteem  which  Julia,  yet  a 
school-girl  in  the  city  of  Charleston,  had  created 
amongst  those  of  my  sex,  till  my  arrival  here.  It 
seems  that  at  some  party  at  which  she  was,  before  our 
family  left  the  city,  she  had  attracted  the  notice  and 
admiration,  among  others,  of  young  Carleton,  a  son 
of  one  of  the  wealthy  house  of  Carleton,  Mercer  & 
Co.  He  has  gone  so  far  as  to  ask  my  consent  to  ad- 
dress her ;  and  as,  I  suppose,  an  excuse  for  the  better 
execution  of  his  purpose,  has  signified  to  his  father 
a  wish  to  travel,  and  of  his  intention  to  leave  the  city 
with  me,  which  will  be  in  a  few  days  from  now. 

"  In  reply  to  his  request,  I  said  :  '*  The  rank  and 
position  occupied  by  your  family  forbids  that  I  should 
refuse  your  request,  but  I  wish  you  to  understand  that 
its  grant  is  not  in  the  least  a  guarantee  to  the  success 
of  your  wishes;  for,  although  the  guardian  of  my 
niece,  in  affairs  like  those  of  which  we  are  speaking, 
she  is  and  must  be  free  to  think  and  act  as  she 
pleases.'"  "  / 

When  Julia  had  read  the  remarks  of  her  uncle, 
folded  and  returned  the  letter  to  her  mother,  she  sat 
for  some  time  mute,  and  apparently  in  deep  thought 
upon  the  question  involved  by  the  information  re- 
ceived. Then,  recollecting  herself,  she  said: 

"  This  morning  presents  to  my'rnind  an  eventful 
period  of  my  life.  When  I  entered  this  room,  it  was 
for  the  purpose  of  imparting  to  my  ever-loved  direct 
and  indirect  parents  an  obligation  I  am  under,  and  to 
solicit  their  counsel  upon  the  course  I  should  pursue 
in  it.  Another  matter,  not  dissimilar,  is  now  before 
me,  and  upon  both,  the  present  time  alone  is  mine  to 


138  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

speak,  and  to  ask  the  matured  reasoning  of  those  from 
whom  I  am  proud  to  have  derived  my  existence." 

Here  an  allusion  was  made  to  Withrow,  the  events 
that  had  taken  place  in  the  library,  and  the  promise 
of  another  interview  there  with  him. 

"Of  the  affair,"  continued  Julia,  "of  which  my 
uncle  speaks,  it  is  one  of  too  recent  information  for 
present  reflection  ;  at  least  so,  till  I  have  disposed  of 
the  one  in  which  I  must  confess  myself  somewhat  im- 
plicated." 

"  From  what  you  have  just  said,"  replied  Mrs.  Ray- 
ford,  "we  may  judge  a  decided  preference  with  you 
in  favor  of  Mr.  Withrow;  and,  indeed,  the  uninten- 
tional discovery  by  me  of  your  interview  with  him 
last  evening,  in  the  library,  infers  very  much  the 
opposite  of  mutability." 

"  Of  that,  excuse  me,  mother,"  returned  Julia,  "  he 
would  like  to  know,  and  'tis  now  that  I  ask  at  the 
hands  of  those  who  shall  ever  exercise  the  controlling 
influence  of  parents  over  me,  if  I  may  take  the  first 
step  in  making  Mr.  Withrow  your  son-in-law,  and  my 
acknowledged  liege." 

"  Then  you  are  engaged  ?"  said  Mrs.  Leftridge. 

"Not  so,  grandma;  but  I  am  under  a  promise  to 
become  so,  or  not,  to-morrow  morning ;  and  however 
much  I  may  be  inclined  to  the  former,  that  inclina- 
tion would  soon  dissolve  itself  into  friendship,  and 
friendship  alone,  if  objected  to  by  those  in  whose 
presence  I  now  am." 

"  Do  you  disregard  the  opinions  of  your  uncle  in 
matters  of  this  import?"  said  her  mother. 

"  By  no  means,"  replied  Julia,  "  I  well  know  that 
whatever  yours  are,  his  will  be  in  accordance." 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERESTGAY.  139 

The  interview  just  described,  resulted  in  the  endow- 
ment upon  Julia  to  act  as  the  affections  of  her  heart 
dictated ;  and  after  having  asked  for,  and  obtained  the 
letter,  already  spoken  of,  from  her  uncle,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  a  second  reading,  she  left  the  drawing-room, 
and  entered  her  own  apartment. 

Much  of  that  disposition  to  meddle  with,  surmise 
and  predict  upon  the  result  of  the  business  of  others, 
by  opinions  unasked  for  or  sought  after,  was,  as  is 
elsewhere,  too  often  the  case,  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  Fotheringay ;  notwithstanding  which,  the  well-bal- 
anced minds  of  the  truly  lady-like  and  gentlemanly 
portion  of  the  inhabitants,  of  the  period  of  which  I  am 
speaking,  discountenanced  and  thought  it  degrading 
to  encourage  such  principles. 

Miss  Rayford  had  scarcely  left  the  drawing-room 
before  the  bell  of  the  front  door  announced  the  arrival 
of  visitors.  They  were  the  mother  and  sister  of  a 
young  gentleman  who  had  for  some  time  previous 
been  a  votary  at  the  shrine  of  merited  excellence  in 
the  preferment  of  his  claim  to  the  heart  and  hand  of 
the  mountain  girl. 

No  sooner  had  the  ladies  of  the  mansion  entered  the 
parlor  than  the  loquacious  and  ever  posted  up  Madame 
Marwell,  commenced  her  comments  upon  the  absurdity 
(as  she  expressed  it)  of  the  wealthy  to  mix  and  asso- 
ciate with  those  who  are  not  so.  At  the  beginning  of 
Mrs.  Marwell's  volley  of  invective,  and  knowing  her 
fame  for  gossiping,  Mrs.  Ray  ford  felt  for  the  better 
sense  of  Miss  Marwell,  and  had  requested  her  to  go  to 
Julia's  apartment. 

"  I  declar,"  said  Mrs.  Marwell,  "  that  these  here 
fellers  as  has  gut  the  use  uv  their  tungs  in  makin'  ther 


140  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

wurds  kum  frum  ther  lips  like  tha  was  greest  with 
swet  ile,  and  a  purty  good  face  an  form  in  the  bargain, 
kreate  too  much  mischiff  with  our  gals.  This  heer 
way  of  lettin'  our  darters  keep  kumpenny  with  'em, 
an  sum  we  no  nuthin  uv,  pertickelly  tarments  me,  an 
makes  the  way  fur  our  fortins  to  go  inter  tha  hans  uv 
them  who  ain't  our  ekwills.  An  I  jist  thot  Ide  kum 
over  to-day  en  tawk  about  it  to  you  ladis,  an  bring 
my  dater  Lizer  to  see  Miss  July.  En  you  hev  got  sich 
a  case  in  yore  house ;  that  ar  Mr.  Wutherow  !  nobody 
noes  nuthin  'tall  bout  him,  unly  thet  hees  pore  ;  an  I 
heer  he's  tryin  to  make  people  bleeve  hees  a  grate 
man !  and  by  it  trise  to  make  yore  datter  fall  into  luv 
with  'em.  You  must  'scuze  me,  for  I  like  my  nabers, 
an  luvs  Miss  Julia,  an  I  wanter.  give  her  my  esspe- 
reence  in  sich  things.  All  ghals  wanter  marry.  When 
I  wuz  young  I  wuz  mitey  purtecquelar,  an  I  want  my 
gals  and  Miss  Julie  to  be  so  too.  Now  I  shore  there's 
my  sun  Charles,  he's  ur  mach  fur  enny  g'hal  in  the 
kountry,  he  don't  do  nothin,  bet  take  pleasure,  and  '11 
be  worth  a  fortin  by  my  old  maden  sister  Miney,  who 
wuz  sich  a  fule  as  to  refuse  Tom  Goodwell  more'n 
thirty-six  year  pass  lass  Krissmast.  Bersides,  he'll  git 
a  good  leven  frum  his  father.  Oh  my  gud  naber, 
Misses  Ray  ford,  you  kant  jiss  now  tell  the  plesure  it 
wood  give  us  to  see  my  son  Chawles  and  Miss  July 
marrid.  I  heve  had  my  hart  fixed  on  it  for  sich  a 
long  time.  Besides  it  would  be  sich  a  good  thin  to 
see  our  famlys  unighted  an  our  riches  all  a  remanin 
'mong  ourselfs.  An  now  I  hev  tole  you  my  opinin,  I 
wish  to  heer  yourn !" 

The  politeness  of  the  ladies  at  the  mansion  was  heavily 
burthened  with  patience  as  a  virtue,  as  well  as  a  tax, 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY.  141 

at  listening  to  Mrs.  Mar  well,  and  when  their  opinions 
were  asked  Mrs.  Leftridge  said,  "  Do  you  wish  me  to 
be  sincere,  and  in  being  so  will  you  still  believe  me 
and  my  family  your  true  friends,  Mrs.  Marwell  ?" 

"  Why-ah-yes,"  was  the  drawling  reply. 

"  Then  let  me  tell  you  that  the  selfish  designs  shown 
in  your  remarks  of  .this  morning  are  too  pointed  to  be 
agreeable,  and  your  views  with  regard  to  the  fitting 
associates  for,  and  marriage  of  young  ladies,  are  not 
necessary,  so  far,  at  least,  as  my  grand-daughter  is 
concerned.  And  believe  me,.  Madam,  that  there's 
nothing  more  offensive  to  my  ear  and  disagreeable  to 
my  feelings,  than  the  unasked-for  concern  of  others 
with  the  affairs  of  their  neighbors." 

The  brief  reply  of  Mrs.  Leftridge  had  the  desired 
effect.  Madame  Marwell  ceased  her  annoying  com- 
ments for  that  time,  and  soon  after  dinner  left  for  her 
home  less  burthened,  but  with  no  better  pay  for  her 
display  of  gossip  than  when  she  had  come. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

That  which  is  productive  of  most  happiness,  is  the  choice  we  make  of 
the  source  from  which  it  is  derived. 

THE  wished  for  morning  had  arrived,  and  at  the 
appointed  hour  Withrow  entered  the  library,  where, 
in  a  few  moments  after  he  had  taken  his  seat,  he  was 
joined  by  Miss  Ray  ford. 

"  I  have  come,"  said  she,  "  to  comply  with  one  of 
the  most  important  engagements  as  yet  incident  to 


142  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

my  life ;  and  one,  too,  which  is  to  create  a  new  era  in 
yours,  as  well  as  in  my  future  existence." 

Here  Withrow  imagined  his  conquest  gained,  and 
added, 

"  Then  you  have  consented  to  be  mine?" 

"  Not  so,"  replied  Julia ;  and  resuming  her  remarks 
said  :  "  The  first  meeting  with  you  in  this  apartment 
was  purely  accidental ;  the  next  and  this  one  were  at 
your  own  solicitation.  Our  last  interview  within 
these  walls  was  an  important  one,  because  of  the 
interest  I  have  taken  and  felt  in  your  reference  to, 
and  disclosure  of,  things  in  relation  to  yourself,  of 
which  I  was  till  then  ignorant,  and  other  matters  of 
me  and  mine,  of  which  I  was  then,  as  I  am  now, 
conversant,  but,  at  that  time,  not  at  liberty  to  speak. 
To  be  frank  with  you  now,  as  you  were  a  few  even- 
ings ago  to  me,  is  my  present  purpose  here,  and 
since  the  time  is  near  at  hand  when  the  scenes  at 
Fotheringay  will  assume  another  aspect  to  that  in 
which  they  have  heretofore  appeared,  within  the 
present  hour,  is  the  pleasure  felt  in  answering  your 
several  interrogatories." 

Here  Miss  Rayford  descanted  in  rapid  succession, 
though  in  fine  as  impressive  language  upon  the 
different  matters  (save  one)  contained  in  Withrow's 
allusions  at  their  last  interview,  and  in  her  additional 
remarks  upon  the  daily  expected  arrival  of  her 
uncle ;  was  also  silent  with  regard  to  young 
Carlton. 

"  Thus,"  continued  Julia,  "  have  you  become  a 
knowing  one  upon  the  leading  events  giving  rise  to 
the  anticipated  changes  in  our  family,  and,  of  course, 
a  partial  one  with  regard  to  me,  as  in  the  routine  of 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  143 

that  change,  I  obtain  a  step-father,  and  one,  too, 
before  he  shall  have  taken  his  station  as  such,  I  am 
happy  to  say  is  highly  worthy  of  my  obedience  and 
regard." 

Here  a  few  moments  of  silence  ensued,  when 
Withrow  said :  "  Is  there  no  one  with  whom  you 
would  be  willing  to  divide  the  '  obedience  and 
respect,'  of  which  you  have  just  spoken?" 

"There  is,"  replied  Julia,  "and  that  one  has 
engaged,  as  he  still  does,  much  of  my  thoughts." 

The  inuendo  on  the  part  of  Withrow  was  immedi- 
iately  disposed  of,  and  making  a  direct  allusion  of 
this  passion  for  Julia,  he  continued,  "  I  am  aware 
from  observation  alone,  during  my  stay  here,  of  the 
many  offers  made  you  by  men  of  wealth,  and,  in  that 
particular,  putting  an  end,  at  once,  to  competition 
from  me.  Some  are,  I  am  happy  to  say,  of  intellec- 
tual worth,  the  hearts  of  nearly  all  of  whom  would 
never,  I  believe,  prove  treacherous  or  false,  to  you. 
To  such  a  one  as  would  be  most  pleasing — that  you 
could  think  would  make  you  happy,  and  you  in 
return  make  him  so,  you  ought  to  become  married ; 
and  that  one  upon  whom  you  have  engaged  much 
of  your  thought  ought  to  be  the  husband  of  Miss 
Rayford.  In  being  so,  he  who  now  assumes  the 
province  of  admiring  you,  will,  when  he  is  far,  far  from 
you,  cast  an  occasional  thought  upon  the  scenes 
which  have  passed,  and  are  still  to  pass  here." 

"  I  like  the  ideal  drawing  of  -the  picture  of  him, 
whom,  you  say,  'ought  to  be  the  husband  of  Miss 
Rayford,'  but  I  cannot  like  the  sombre  aspect  of  its 
back-ground,"  replied  Julia.  "  And  here,  suffer  me 
to  add,  that  I  know  none  who  come  nearer  to  your 


144:  THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTHERESTGAY. 

description  of  him  who  ought  to  be  my  husband  than 
the  gentleman  now  before  me.  And  know,  Mr.  With- 
row,  that  your  want  of  wealth  does  not  in  the  least 
impair  the  strength  of  your  competition  with  others 
for  my  heart  and  hand.  You  have  asked  for  them, 
and  here  my  heart  is  conferred  upon  you  with  the 
promise  of  my  hand.  And  now,"  continued  Julia, 
"  as  I  have  complied  literally  with  your  request  thus 
far,  and  anticipate  the  pleasure  of  doing  so  in  future 
in  the  capacity  of  your  wife,  I  must  ask  your  permis- 
sion to  close  the  conference  and  return  to  my  mother 
where  pressing  concerns  require  my  aid." 

The  sudden  transition  of  the  senses  from  the  ex- 
treme of  despair  to  the  acquirement  of  that  upon 
which  the  whole  time  of  our  dearest  hopes  is  concen- 
trated, is  a  kind  of  mental  Elysium.  Such  were  With- 
row's  feelings  at  the  close  of  Miss  Rayford's  impressive 
remarks.  Bat  a  moment  before  he  had  thrown  off  the 
heart's  costume  of  love  and  in  its  stead  assumed  that 
of  friendship.  Under  circumstances  and  at  a  time 
least  expected  he  is  made  aware  of  the  purest  of  all 
earthly  things — woman's  affection!  And  is  at  once 
told  that  he  was  not  only  the  "elect,"  but  the  "chosen" 
one  to  govern  and  control  the  heart  on  that  day  con- 
signed to  his  keeping. 

If  the  intrinsic  value  of  such  gifts  were  more  in- 
tensely thought  of  and  prized  by  men,  what  a  laby- 
rinth of  discord  and  misery  would  be  checked  and 
entirely  put  a  stop  to  in  the  progress  of  human 
existence. 

On  the  following  day  Colonel  Leftridge  and  young 
Carlton  arrived  at  the  mansion,  and,  as  is  the  charac- 
teristic of  Virginians  on  the  approach  of  strangers 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  145 

among  them,  Carlton  was  introduced  to  and  received 
by  the  family  with  that  attention  of  hospitable  polite- 
ness leaving  no  doubt  upon  his  mind  of  their  friend- 
ship and  esteem. 


.*•-  CHAPTER   XIX. 

One  of  the  real  pleasures  of  life  is  the  conviction  we  have  of  affording  it 
to  others  around  us. 

NOT  many  days  passed  after  the  return  of  the  Colo- 
nel before  the  news  of  his  arrival  was  known,  and 
visits  made  him  by  his  neighbors,  congratulating  the 
return  of  their  friend.  The  ladies  had  also  learned  of 
another  stranger  being  at  Fotheringay,  and  by  way 
of  an  excuse  for  their  desire  and  purpose  of  seeing  him, 
made  daily  visits  to  the  mansion  under  the  pretext  of 
seeing  Miss  Rayford.  Miss  Lewis  was  the  opposite 
of  all  that,  and  was  among  the  last  of  Miss  Rayford's 
female  friends  in  receiving  an  introduction  to  young 
Carlton.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  form  and  stature;  pos- 
sessed of  a  well  cultivated  mind,  of  polite  and  polished 
manners  and  address,  and  withal  a  warm  and  generous 
heart.  His  face  wore  the  impression  of  the  southern 
sun,  and  his  black  hair,  and  large,  round  and  expres- 
sive dark  eye  made  him  the  subject  of  converse  among 
those  who  knew  him. 

The  unexpected  long  absence;  the  multiplicity  of 
domestic  concerns  now  requiring  his  attention  at 
home,  and  the  fast  approaching  day  on  which  he  was 
to  become*  the  husband  of  Miss  Craigne,  were  the 
preventives  to  the  Colonel's  spending  much  time  with 

10 


146  THE    HEIRESSES    OF    FOTHERIXGAY. 

his  new  guest ;  nor  was  his  want  of  attention  in  that 
particular  of  much  import,  for  Carlton  had  already 
found  business  enough  to  engage  his  every  mental 
faculty.  He  had  suffered  but  few  days  to  pass  after 
his  introduction  to  her,  before  he  expressed  to  Miss 
Rayford  the  object  of  his  visit. 

Too  much  the  lady  to  receive  his  declarations  in 
any  other  way  but  that  of  courtesy,  Miss  Ray  ford's 
first  wish  was  to  prepare  Carlton  for.,  that  which  was 
necessarily  to  follow — the  refusal  of  his  suit.  One  day 
during  a  long  interview  with  him,  in  listening  to  that 
strain  of  eloquent  and  impressive  effusion  of  the  heart 
and  mind  usual  on  such  occasions,  Carlton  adverted  to 
the  positions  occupied  by  his  opponents,  and  among 
others,  spoke  of  Withrow. 

"Your  capacity  of  discernment,"  replied  Miss  Ray- 
ford,  "  in  matters  of  so  much  gallantry  as  the  topics 
upon  which  you  have  so  pleasantly  entertained  me, 
is  one  of  the  many  qualities  you  possess  attractive  of 
my  esteem  ;  and  in  their  development,  have  not  so  in- 
tentionally as  accidentally  spoken  of  the  attentions 
paid  me  by  Mr.  Withrow.  In  doing  so,  you  have 
kindly  furnished  me  with  the  means  of  serving  two 
important  purposes;  one  to  express  my  thanks  for 
the  high  regard  you  entertain  of  me ;  the  other,  to 
say,  that  my  heart  has  for  some  time  been,  as  it  still 
is,  not  mine  to  dispose  of.  Heretofore  I  have  been 
free  to  think  and  to  act  as  I  pleased,  and,  like  all 
others  of  my  sex,  disposed  to  receive  and  to  listen  to 
the  attentions  paid  us  by  yours ;  but  now,  and  with 
me^that  privilege  is  at  an  end,  except  it  be  in  com- 
pany with,  and  that  at  the  option  of  him  to  whom  my 
heart,  and  promise  of  my  hand  have  been  given." 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  147 

"Your  sentiments,  Miss  Kayford,"  replied  Carlton, 
"  are  alone  worthy  of  the  lady  from  whom  they  have 
emanated,  and  the  honor  you  do  me,  in  speaking  of 
my  discernment,  will  remain  in  the  consecrated  urn 
of  memory  as  long  as  the  heart  which  has  on  this 
day  been  offered  to,  and  refused  by  you,  continues  to 
throb." 

The  day  after  his  refusal  by  Miss  Rayford,  Carlton 
signified  his  intentions  to  leave  Fotheringay.  During 
his  stay  there,  it  had  become  an  affair  of  settled  con- 
clusion among  the  inhabitants,  that  the  marriages  of 
Colonel  Leftridge  and  Doctor  Craigne  we're  to  come 
off;  and  that  soon  Mrs.  Rayford  was  to  become  Mrs. 
Craigne — and  Miss  Craigne  Mrs.  Leftridge. 

The  busy  Mrs.  Marwell  had  already  planned  with 
all  that  prospective  nicety  of  judgment  with  which 
she  meddled  with  the  affairs  of  others,  the  destiny  of 
Julia.  The  wealthy  young  Carlton,  had  come  for, 
and  was  to  take  her  to  the  south;  and  Withrow, 
whom  she  could  not  forgive  for  being,  as  she  supposed, 
in  the  way  of  her  son  Charles,  was  to  go  a  beggar 
from  the  family  of  those  upon  whom  he  had  so  im- 
pertinently, and  for  so  long  a  time,  imposed  himself. 

"  It  will  not  do  for  you  to  leave  us  now,"  said  the 
Colonel  one  evening  to  Carlton,  while  the  family  were 
seated ^,t  the  tea-table,  "for  knowing,  as  you  do,  the 
events  which  are  shortly  to  transpire  here,  it  is  my 
wrish  that  you  defer  your  departure  till  they  shall  have 
taken  place;  while,  in  the  meantime,  you  may  find 
among  these  mountains  some  fair  one  who  may  not 
be  like  the  one  for  whom  you  have  come  among  them, 
pre-engaged." 

The  remarks  of  the  Colonel  were  accompanied  by  a 


148  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

suavity  of  manner  and  pleasantness,  of  intended  pur- 
pose, in  no  way  calculated  to  offend,  and  so  far  to  the 
reverse  were  they  received  by  those  present,  that  all 
were  solicitous  that  Carlton  should  not  go  until  the 
events  just  alluded  to  were  consummated. 

"For  my  part,"  said  Julia,  "although  you  found 
me  beyond  the  possibility  of  an  acceptance  of  yourself 
it  may  be  in  my  power  by  the  permission  of  one  (look- 
ing at  Withrow  as  she  spoke)  who  must  in  future 
control  my  actions;  to  assist  you  in  obtaining  a  reward 
worthy  your  journey  here." 

"To  what  have  you  allusion,  Miss  Bayford?"  said 
Carlton. 

"  To  that,"  she  replied,  "  which  would  contribute  to 
your  happiness,  in  becoming  the  husband  of  my  dear 
and  long-known  friend,  Miss  Lewis." 

"  When  ladies  take  an  interest  in  advancing  the 
happiness  of  our  sex,"  replied  Withrow,  "their  acts 
are  from  the  best  of  motives,  and  a  less  danger  of  ills 
resulting  from  than  otherwise ;  and  since  Miss  Ray- 
ford  has  honored  me  in  asking  my  permission  to 
assist  you;  so  far  as  I  am  concerned,  it  is  not  only 
given,  but  my  own  influence  is  here  offered  to  affect 
her  design." 

Carlton  took  the  advice  of  Julia  and  others  of  his 
friends  at  the  mansion.  In  a  few  weeks  after  their 
respective  marriages  took  place,  followed  by  the  de- 
parture of  Carlton  and  Withrow  with  their  ladies  for 
the  city  of  New  York.  Here  they  were  met  by  Lau- 
rence, Hyne  and  their  ladies,  in  a  full  display  of  every 
attention.  At  that  meeting  of  the  long-known  friend 
of  her  uncle,  and  of  the  no  less  valued,  though  until 


TLIE   HEIKE3SES   OF    FOTHEKINGAY.  149 

then,  unknown  one,  Hyne,  Julia  was  not  unmindful 
of  the  debt  of  gratitude  due  them  from  her. 

"  To  your  friendship,  gentlemen,''  said  she  one  day 
to  Laureifcce  and  Hyne,  in  the  presence  of  several,  "  I 
shall  consider  myself  ever  indebted,  for  the  plan  of 
safety  to  my  uncle,  and  the  execution  of  it  by  him  I 
now  have  the  honor  of  being  the  wife  of." 

After  a  continued  routine  of  pleasure  for  several 
weeks  with  his  old  friends,  Withrow  and  his  bride 
accompanied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlton,  left  for  their 
intended  residence  in  the  south. 


CHAPTER    XX.  >'j- 

Circumstances  afford  the  axis,  and  Events  the  action,  upon  which  the 
life  of  man  passes  away. 

MORE  than  twenty  years  had  passed  with.  Time,  as 
he  had  furnished  the  record,  since  the  occurrences  of 
which  I  have  just  spoken;  within  that  period  two  sons 
and  two  daughters  were  born  to  Laurence,  Hyne, 
Leftridge,  and  Withrow.  The  ladies  of  the  two  former 
had  each  a  son,  and  the  ladies  of  the  two  latter  had 
each  a  daughter.  The  two  sons  were  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  the  city  of  New  York ;  and  the  two  girls  in 
the  city  of  Charleston. 

While  the  fathers  of  the  sons  were  sparing  neither 
pains,  care,  trouble,  nor  expense  in  the  preparation  of 
the  minds  of  their  children  for  useful  and  honorable 
stations  upon  the  stage  of  action,  common  with  others 
of  their  fellow  men  as  competitors ;  that  care  was 


150  THE   UEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

being  taken  of  the  girls,  by  their  parents,  which,  at  a 
subsequent  period,  and  one  that  I  shall  at  a  proper 
time  speak  of,  ranked  them  meritoriously  among  that 
class  of  distinctions,  invariably  the  reward  of  the  vir- 
tuous and  the  good. 

When  manhood  had  begun  its  dawn  upon  the  young 
gentlemen  here  alluded,  to,  the  acquirement  of  useful 
and  polished  attainments  in  which  nature  had  assisted 
their  parents  in  a  liberal  bestowal  upon  them,  were 
seen,  with  regret,  taking  an  opposite  course  from  that 
anticipated  and  fondly  looked  for.  The  ideal  edifice 
of  splendor  and  usefulness,  had  been  stricken  by  the 
death-like  blow  of  inertness.  The  whole  fabric  shaken 
to  its  centre  and  tottering  upon  its  basis,  from  the 
influence  upon  it  of  idleness  and  want  of  energy,  was 
fast  approaching  a  mass  of  irreparable  ruin  ;  to  avert 
that  and  create  a  new  action,  in  those  for  whom  alone 
life  becomes  a  pleasure,  the  every  thought  of  Laurence 
and  Hyne  were  put  into  active  operation. 

What  debt  is  there  in  the  affairs  of  life  greater  and 
more  imperatively  obligatory  to  discharge  than  that 
due  by  children  to  their  parents !  It  is  in  the  routine 
of  affection  and  obedience  only  that  it  can  be  liquidated, 
and  after  the  most  constant  as  prompt  disbursement  of 
acceptances  of  that  nature,  the  balance  sheet  exhibits 
a  large  amount  still  due. 

Reader,  hast  thou  a  parent?  if  so,  read  again  the 
paragraph  just  ended;  it  is  intended  for  your  benefit, 
by  one  who  has  also  had  a  kind,  affectionate,  and 
dearl}r  beloved  father  and  mother,  now  no  more !  but 
for  whose  memory  in  affection  his  last  pulse  shall 
proudly  beat. 

The  long-standing  firm  of  Laurence  &  Hyne  had 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEBINGAY.  151 

acquired  for  itself,  not  only  an  extensive  fame  in  the 
mercantile  department  of  the  affairs  of  men,  but  had 
also  brought  to  its  conductors  an  amount  of  wealth 
affording  ease  in  the  decline  of  life. 

It  is  said  that  wealth  can  do  any  thing ;  not  so. 
For  at  the  dying  hour  Holy  Writ  says  to  the  reverse ; 
as  does  also,  the  possession  of  it  to  the  distressed 
parent  at  the  painful  deportment  of  children.  In  such 
cases,  the  unhappy  mother  would  give,  if  at  her  dis- 
posal, hundreds,  and  fathers  thousands,  for  the  resto- 
ration to  proper  deportment  of  their  too  much  indulged 
daughters  and  sons. 

Withrow  had,  within  the  time  spoken  of,  gone  to 
and  settled  himself  in  the  South,  and  Leftridge  occu- 
pied the  Mansion  at  Fotheringay.  Prosperity  seemed 
to  crown  the  efforts  of  both  of  these  gentlemen ;  and 
Leftridge,  though  it  had  long  before  been  refused  by 
Withrow,  settled  nearly  half  of  his  large  and  produc- 
tive estate  upon  his  beloved  niece,  Julia. 

At  the  age  of  ten  years  of  the  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Leftridge,  it  was  the  request  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Withrow  that  she  should  be  sent  to  Charleston,  there 
to  be  educated  with  their  own  daughter. 

That  request  was  granted,  and  at  the  respective  age 
of  eighteen,  those  young  ladies  left  their  school  with 
highly  accredited  honors,  and  taking  their  station  in 
the  circles  of  society  they  were  ever  after  spoken  of  as 
possessing  minds  adorned  by  every  virtue. 

During  the  occurrence  of  the  events  here  spoken  of, 
a  regular  correspondence,  not  only  on  the  part  of  the 
gentlemen,  but  their  ladies  also,  had  been  kept  up. 
Their  ladies  had  been  made  acquainted  with  the  com- 
pact of  intentional  desire,  which  for  years  past  had 


152  THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTHER1NGAY. 

been,  and  still  was  known  to  be  in  existence,  between 
the  four  fathers.  Yet  nothing  of  the  kind,  up  to  that 
period,  had  been  spoken  of,  or  even  alluded  to  before 
their  children. 

The  health  of  Withrow  and  that  of  his  lady  had 
become  much  impaired,  and  a  change  of  climate  being 
determined  on,  with  their  only  child,  set  out  for  the 
mountains  of  Virginia.     Upon  their  arrival  at  Fother- 
ingay,  the  society  of  her  mother,  grandmother  (very 
old,  yet  still   active  in  mind)  and  that  of  her  uncle, 
seemed  to  have  created  a  new  action  in  the  health  of 
Mrs.  "Withrow.      The  reminiscences  of  former  times 
and  scenes  among  them,  some  of  the  most  endearing 
of  her  life,  appeared  to  create  a  new  impetus  to  re- 
covery in  the  physical  strength  of  Julia,  but  it  was  of 
short  duration.     One  day,  while  on  her  death-bed  and 
near  a  window  that  commanded  a  view  of  the  Pebble 
Peak,  which,  and  the  occurrences  happening  upon  it, 
are  already  known  to  my  readers,  in  low,  yet  impres- 
sive tones,  she  said :  "  Time  passes  swiftly,  and  pleasures 
in  the  retrospect,  are  but  a  glance  of  the  mind  that 
recall  them.      In  the  enjoyment  of  health,  and  that 
twenty-five  years  since,  I,  with   others,  dear  to  me, 
were  upon  its  summit.     Now,  I  am  at  its  base,  where, 
ere  long,  I  shall  breathe   my  last.      I   desire  when 
that  is  the  case  that  my  remains  shall  be  deposited 
upon  the  top  of  that  mountain,  and  near  the  rock  upon 
which,  in  years  past  and  gone,  my  hearts  record  of 
love's  young  dream  began  its  course.     I  am  now  pre- 
pared,"  continued   she,  "  to  leave   this  for  a  better 
world,  and  come  death  when  he  may,  I  am  ready." 
Here   she  requested   her  relatives  to   surround    her 
bed,  when,  in  an  audible  voice,  she  pronounced   the 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  153 

•word  "farewell!"  Then  looking  up  with  a  composure 
of  countenance  expressive  of  confidence,  soon  after 
closed  her  eyes,  to  open  them  no  more. 

A  like  scene  to  that  just  described  soon  occurred  in 
the  death  and  burial  at  the  same  place,  of  Withrow. 
And  a  few  days  before  his  death,  his  daughter  being 
at  his  bedside,  he  said  :  "  My  daughter  the  hour  is  near 
at  hand  when  I  must  leave  you  ;  I  have  tried  to  live, 
as  I  am  now  dying — in  fear,  obedience  and  firm  reli- 
ance upon  the  mercies  of  the  Most  High.  And  have 
tried  to  be  an  humble  practitioner  of  that  graphic 
code  of  faith  given  to  man  by  his  unerring  Savior ! 
my  last  request  is,  That  you  will  try  to  live  in  and 
after  the  manner  prescribed  by  Him ;  if  so,  the  hour 
of  death  to  you  cannot  fail  to  be  a  pleasant  one." 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

In  nothing  are  we  more  acceptable  in  the  sight  of  Deity,  than  when  our 
acts  portend  good. 

"WiTHROW  and  his  lady  had  now  been  dead  more 
than  a  year,  and  in  a  letter  received  about  that  time, 
by  Leftridge,  from  his  friend  Laurence,  were  the  fol- 
lowing remarks :  "  You  are  doubtless  well  aware  of 
the  anxiety  of  parents  relative  to  their  children,  and 
can,  therefore,  readily  imagine  the  concern  felt  by  me 
and  three  others  here,  for  ours.  I  feel  sorrow  in  telling 
you  of  the  despair  to  which  we  have  arrived,  upon 
the  subject  between  us,  so  long  intended,  of  per- 
petuity. 


154  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"  For  it  seems  that  everything  thus  far  done  pre- 
paratory to  a  worthy  marriage  of  our  son  to  your 
daughter,  has  become  a  perfect  mockery  upon  our 
best  efforts  to  inculcate  business  habits  and  the  prac- 
tice of  them  in  him.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hyne  are  in  a  like 
dilemma,  and  of  the  same  opinion  with  regard  to  their 
son.  With  theirs,  as  well  as  our  dear  boy,  there 
seems  to  be  no  longer  a  hope  of  reclamation  from 
inertness,  and  a  still  more  dreaded  fear  of  habitual 
intemperance.  Parents  know  not  what  they  raise 
their  children  for!  and  for  the  sake  of  your  four 
friends  here,  please  give  us  your  opinion  how  to  act." 

Leftridge  was  deeply  impressed  with  concern  at  the 
condition  of  the  parental  hope  of  his  friends,  as  well 
as  their  appeal  made  to  him  for  counsel ;  and  with  all 
that  earnest  reflection  that  ought  to  mark  the  acts  of 
one  true  friend  toward  another,  considered  well  the 
reply  he  should  make.  This  done,  he,  with  that  vola- 
tility of  temperament  at  times  so  remarkable  in  him, 
though  naturally  grave  and  dignified,  wrote  as  fol- 
lows, to  Laurence: — 

"  That  you  know  the  depth  of  interest  I  feel  for  the 
prosperity  and  happiness  of  you  and  yours,  as  well 
as  for  my  no  less  esteemed  friend,  Mr.  Hyne,  .and 
family,  is  what  I  need  not  here  multiply  words  to 
convince  you  of.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  things 
of  which  you  speak  have  become  common,  and  two 
of  the  most  intense  bitterness  incident  to  parental 
life.  And  now,  the  plan  I  have  devised,  with  the 
intent  to  save,  and  which  is  as  follows  laid  before  you 
and  Mr.  Hyne  for  yours  and  his  approval  or  rejection, 
in  the  attempt  to  reclaim  and  bring  to  some  sort  of. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  155 

approved  system  of  deportment  those  of  whom  you 
speak. 

"  Those  who  are  brought  up  in  the  manners  and 
customs  of  city  life,  know  little,  if  anything  of  a 
frontier  one.  In  this  particular,  the  manners,  customs, 
and  scenes  here  can  be  more  easily  imposed  upon  the 
credulity  of  yours  and  the  son  of  Mr.  Hyne  than  if  it 
were  otherwise  with  them. 

"  The  better  to  effect  my  purpose,  I  have  instituted 
here,  and  among  a  few  and  highly  worthy  young  gen- 
tlemen, sons  of  my  well-known  neighbors,  an  "  Order 
of  Bandits,"  and,  so  far  as  the  reality  of  its  purposes 
is  concerned,  have  already  searched  for  and  found  a 
cavern,  about  ten  miles  distant,  well  adapted  for  the 
use  intended.  A  judge,  and  other  officers  of  the 
court,  with  lawyers  and  jurymen,  have  been  chosen 
and  appointed  from  among,  if  for  them,  in  my  scheme, 
there  may  be  any  use. 

"  For  the  first  time,  I  have  imparted  to  my  beloved 
daughter,  and  my  no  less  beloved  adopted  one,  my 
wishes,  with  those  of  yours,  Mr.  Hyne,  and  your 
ladies.  In  every  particular,  a  like  secrecy  to  that 
practiced  by  you  two  gentlemen,  years  ago,"  for  my 
benefit,  will  be  observed,  and  I  hope  as  effectually 
carried  out  for  the  benefit  of  all  concerned. 

"In  the  part  pantomimic  of  the  affair  intended,  I 
play  the  part  of  a  country  tavern-keeper;  and  the 
man  who  is  really  the  inn-keeper  here,  with  his  family, 
I  purpose,  for  the  time  being,  to  possession  and  con- 
trol of  my  house. 

"  When  I  mentioned  my  plot  to  the  young  ladies, 
and  the  -circumstances  leading  to  and  giving  rise  to 
it,  it  was  in  presence  of  my  whole  family ;  and  after 


156  THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHEMNGAY. 

a  little  of  the  surprise  as  well  as  humor  it  excited 
had  passed,  one  of  them  said:  'It  is  not  your  inten- 
tion, father,  to  have  us  wed  those  gentlemen  without 
the  approval  of  it  by  our  hearts ;  and  knowing  that,  as 
we  do,  will  on  this  occasion  stoop  in  order  to  save,  to 
conquer,  and  to  love,  if  possible  ;  and  also  consent  to 
play  any  parts  assigned  us  in  this  new  way  of  making 
matches — especially  when  we  have  for  our  mentors 
persons  of  so  much  experience  as  you  and  those  with 
whom  you  are  associated  in  the  plan  before  us.' 

"  You  have  now  my  views ;  and  if  they  meet  with 
the  approval  of  you  and  Mr.  Hyne,  and,  of  course, 
that  of  both  your  ladies,  propose  to  your  sons  an  ex- 
cursion to  the  West — getting  some  experienced  and 
settled  person,  in  whom  you  can  place  explicit  confi- 
dence, and  upon  whom  I  can  also  rely,  to  accompany 
them.  From  time  to  time,  you  shall  be  apprized  of 
our  movements,  which  I  hope  will  result  in  closer 
ties  than  those  which  at  present  exists  between  us." 

The  scheme  proposed  was  readily  agreed  to,  and  a 
notice  of  that  agreement  made  known  to  its  projector. 

Now,  reader,  since  you  have  been  informed  of  whom 
the  keeper  of  the  Mountain  Inn  was,  by  your  permis- 
sion, I  will  return  to  the  respective  parties  left  there 
some  time  ago,  and  continue  my  endeavors  to  amuse 
you  in  a  further  development  of  their  motives  and 
acts. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  157 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

In  literature  incident  gives  riae  to  excitement;  and  excitement  is  gratified 
only  by  research. 

THE  tavern  spoken  of  in  the  first  chapter  of  this 
work  was  from  a  fourth  to  a  half  mile  distant  from 
the  Fotheringay  Mansion,  which  last  stood  upon  a 
beautiful  eminence  commanding  a  delightful  and  ex- 
tensive view  of  the  Roanoke  river  many  miles  distant, 
at  it  found  its  way  through  the  valley. 

With  a  view  the  better  to  effect  purposes  contem- 
plated, a  change  of  names  and  occupancy  had  been 
agreed  upon,  and  Leftridge  assuming  that  'of  Melvin 
had  taken  possession  of  the  tavern,  and  Dierdoffe  (the 
tavern  keeper)  that  of  Urnsden,  occupied  the  mansion 
for  the  time  being.  The  young  ladies  of  the  Colonel's 
family,  Antoinette  Leftridge  and  Leontine  Withrow 
were  to  remain  at  the  mansion,  and  as  circumstances 
required  were  to  be  occasionally  at  the  tavern. 

The  arrival  there  of  the  strangers,  and  incidents  of 
their  first  night  at  the  Mountain  Ian,  are  already 
known  to  my  readers.  Hence  new  matter  and  further 
developments  of  it. 

At  the  dawn  of  day  our  huntsmen  arose  from  their 
slumbers,  and  when  the  travellers  had  got  up,  and 
were  promenading  a  porch  extending  from  one  end  of 
the  building  to  the  other,  the  first  thing  that  attracted 
their  attention  was  the  sight  of  six  men  standing  by 
their  horses,  placed  in  a  straight  line,  fronting,  but 
about  ten  feet  distant  from  the  front  door  of  the 
tavern. 


158  THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY. 

Their  costumes  were  that  of  the  dressed  deer  skin, 
made  into  a  kind  of  coat  extending  to  the  knee,  orna- 
mented with  fringe  of  the  same  material,  that  in  like 
manner  adorned  a  sort  of  cape  which  hung  gracefully 
over  their  shoulders.  This  coat  when  wrapped  around 
the  body  and  fastened  with  a  belt,  resembled  the 
"  sack"  with  its  conveniences  and  comforts,  as  worn 
at  the  present  day.  Their  pantaloons,  or  pants,  as 
they  are  now  termed,  were  made  of  like  material;  the 
whole  neatness  of  which  displaying  forms  of  muscular 
strength  and  symmetry,  of  which  men  inured  to  the 
hardships  of  former  days  were  possessed.  Upon  their 
heads  was  worn  a  cap  made  of  otter  skin.  In  this 
apparel,  with  the  shot-pouch  and  requisites  for  the 
chase  gracefully  hanging  by  their  side,  with  their 
rifles  upright  upon  the  ground,  held  in  one  hand,  and 
the  reins  of  their  bridles  held  in  the  other,  they  were 
patiently  and  respectfully  waiting  the  arrival  of  others 
who  were  to  join  them  in  the  hunt  already  spoken  of. 
A  trespass  upon  the  gallantry  of  the  hunters  had  not 
been  long  imposed,  before  two  ladies,  mounted  upon 
fine  horses,  accompanied  by  two  young  gentlemen, 
were  seen  at  some  distance  coming  towards  them. 

Usefulness  with  convenience,  exempt  from  danger, 
was  in  those  days  consulted  by  ladies  in  costumes 
used  when  on  horseback,  consequently,  the  skirts  as 
now  worn  on  such  occasions,  almost  reaching  the 
ground,  and  preventing  the  free  use  of  the  many  pretty 
understandings  of  the  fair,  were  alike  unsafe  or  disap- 
proved of.  The  lovely  form  of  woman  was  never 
intended  by  the  knowing  Author  of  such  excellence 
to  be  hidden,  when  the  appearance  of  any  part  of  it 
becomes  necessary  for  comfort,  ease  and  assistance. 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  159 

Nor  was  it  ever  intended  to  be  squeezed  to  death  by 
the  trappings  of  that  species  of  folly  above  all  most 
destructive  to  health  aud  life. 

My  fair  readers,  doubtless,  understand  the  allusion 
made  in  the  paragraph  just  ended,  and  have,  unques- 
tionably, too  much  good  sense  to  condemn  me  for  the 
remarks,  which  with  others  contained  in  this  work, 
are  all  intended  for  their  amusement,  instruction  and 
good,  in  the  virtues  of  refinement  and  taste,  which  I 
know  the  true  lady  is  in  the  possession  of,  as  well  as 
practice  of. 

The  intervention  of  a  few  minutes  from  the  time 
they  were  first  seen,  brought  into  the  presence  of  the 
huntsmen,  two  beautiful  and  high-spirited  black  steeds, 
bearing  upon  their  backs,  the  ladies  spoken  of.  The 
expert  use  of  the  check  rein,  and  the  graceful  ease  with 
which  they  govern  their  horses  soon  placed  Antoinette 
Leftridge  and  Leontine  Withrow  in  a  line  fronting 
that  occupied  by  their  gallant  friends,  while  on  each 
side  of  the  ladies  were  ranged  their  two  attendants. 

The  dress  of  those  gentlemen  was  after  the  descrip- 
tion of  that  of  the  huntsmen.  In  the  immediate  atten- 
tions required  of  them,  that  day,  by  their  fair  charge, 
they  were  for  that  cause  exempted  from  carrying  the 
rifle. 

Accustomed  to  a  mountainous  region,  and  especially 
in  a  section  of  country  and  at  a  period  when  and  where 
the  use  of  carriages  were  less  known  and  less  thought  of, 
any  excursion  undertaken  and  carried  into  effect,  was 
invariably  made  upon  horseback.  In  that  particular 
exercise  our  heroines  were  adepts,  and  often  with 
others  of  their  sex,  accompanied  by  gentlemen  of  their 
acquaintance,  were  seen,  where  horses  could  possibly 


160  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIER1NGAY. 

keep   foot,  upon   the   sides  and  tops  of  the   widely 
extended  and  lofty  peaks  of  the  Alleghanies. 

Upon  the  occasion  before  us,  the  ladies  in  question, 
were  costumed  in  a  riding-dress,  made  of  a  dark  green 
cloth,  fashioned  after  the  order  of  the  pelisse ;  the  skirt 
of  which  extended,  when  dismounted,  a  little  below  the 
lower  edge  of  their  dress,  and  when  on  horseback  grace- 
fully resting  upon  the  top  of  the  instep.  Its  ornament 
was  simply  a  double  row  of  last  gilt  buttons  at  thick 
and  equal  distances,  extending  from  the  top  of  each 
shoulder  to  a  point  in  the  centre  of  the  breast,  from 
thence  a  single  row  extending  in  front  to  the  extremity 
of  the  skirt,  displaying  the  bust,  not  drawn  in,  but  as 
nature  designed  it  to  be — distended.  Upon  their  heads, 
was  worn  a  sort  of  hat  made  of  fine  black  plush  velvet, 
not  exactly,  but  resembling  in  make  that  used  by 
ladies  of  the  present  day.  It's  decoration  was  an 
ostrich  feather  fastened  in  front,  and  under,  an  orna- 
ment attached  to  a  band  extending  around  it.  The 
hat  was  placed  more  upon  the  right  side  than  other- 
wise, of  the  head,  and  made  fast  by  a  ribbon,  neatly 
tied  under  the  chin;  the  whole  displaying  a  graceful 
attitude,  fine  foreheads,  and  the  tresses  of  jet-black 
hair,  that  so  attractingly  waved  in  the  breeze  as  it 
passed. 

As  the  ladies  took  their  positions,  a  profound  silence 
was  observed,  and  in  a  few  moments,  drawing  their 
lace  veils  to  the  right  side  of  their  faces,  were  in  full 
view  of  the  company,  with  whom  they  intended  spend- 
ing that  day,  amongst  the  wilds  of  Fotheringay.  Their 
expressive  eyes  were  concentrated  upon  one  of  the 
huntsmen  occupying  the  centre  of  the  line;  and  each 
at  the  same  moment  presenting  him  with  sealed  notes, 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY.  161 

made  signs  for  him  to  read  them.  That  done — they 
unclasped  their  pencils,  suspended  to  massive  gold 
chains,  supporting  miniatures  resting  upon  their 
bosoms,  and  handing  them,  with  elegantly  bound  note- 
books, to  him ;  his  reply  was  soon  given,  when,  in 
the  next  moment,  the  entire  party  was  seen  on  its 
way  to  the  adjacent  part  of  the  mountains. 


CHAPTER    XXIII.    •>,• 

An  agreeable  reflection  upon  the  post,  and  cheerful    thoughts  of  the 
present  are  wholesome  food  for  the  mind. 

DURING  the  scenes  described  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
last  chapter,  our  travellers  had  ceased  their  promenade, 
and  were  also  silent,  though  astonished,  as  well  as 
delighted  spectators  of  the  (to  them)  mysterious  occur- 
rences in  which  it  seemed  involved. 

Strangers  to  that  of  any  thing  like,  let  alone  the 
realities  of  a  frontier  life ;  the  costume  of  the  hunts- 
men ;  their  stern  and  determined  deportment,  yet  gen- 
tlemanly and  respectful  manner  in  which  they  received 
the  fair  ones,  who  had  just  joined  the  company,  were 
matters  of  remark,  as  well  as  reflection  to  the  minds 
of  the  travellers.  And  the  glance  of  the  eye,  and  con- 
tour of  the  feminine  forms  and  faces  that  morning  dis- 
played, all  contributed  to  excite  their  curiosity,  attrac- 
tion, and  particular  regard. 

At  the  breakfast  hour  no  lady  lent  her  pleasant 
smile  nor  looked  the  social  intercourse  at  the  taking 
their  repast,  as  had  been  the  case  at  supper  the  pre- 
11 


1G2  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY. 

ceding  evening.  Sanco — the  servant  spoken  of  on  a 
former  occasion,  was  their  only  attendant ;  and  when 
questioned  by  the  junior  part  of  the  strangers  relative 
to  the  occurrences  of  the  morning,  and  an  adversion 
to  the  music  heard  on  the  night  before;  the  answer 
received  was,  that  "he  had  been  taught  to  speak  of 
nothing  but  what  his  owners  allowed,"  adding  with  a 
polite  gravity  of  countenance,  "  if  you  wish  to  know, 
it  would  be  better  to  apply  to  some  one  of  your  own 
color." 

In  a  few  moments  after  the  reply  just  written,  was 
made,  the  travellers  rose  from  the  table  and  went  to 
their  room,  which  they  found  neat  and  clean,  and 
everything  arranged  in  genteel  and  comfortable  order. 
Several  volumes  of  fine  works  had  been  laid  on  their 
table,  upon  which  had  been  also  placed,  pens,  ink  and 
paper.  "  This  is  gratifying,"  said  one  of  the  young 
men,  "for,  if  I  can't  know  what  I  have  attempted  to 
enquire  of  here,  I  can  at  least  amuse  myself  at  read- 
ing." 

The  elder  gentleman  seemed  to  have  caught  an  idea 
favorable  to  the  part  he  was  to  perform  in  the  affairs 
then  transpiring;  and  finding  his  young  friends  seated, 
each  one  with  a  book  in  his  hand,  and  intently  en- 
gaged reading — took  that  opportunity  to  leave  them, 
saying:— 

"  This  is  a  fine  morning,  and  I  will  avail  myself  of 
a  walk  in  it."  As  he  finished  the  remark,  he  buttoned 
his  coat,  throw  his  cloak  around  him,  put  on  his 
gloves,  placed  his  hat  upon  his  head,  and  soon  was 
out  of  the  room. 

Passing  through  the  porch  from  whence  he  had  but 
a  few  hours  before,  beheld  for  the  first  time  our  hero- 


THE   HEIEESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY.  163 

ines,  and  their  gallant  friends ;  the  first  person  he  met 
was  Sanco.  For  a  moment,  he  felt  at  a  loss  to  know 
what  route  to  pursue  or  how  to  act ;  but  recovering, 
his,  at  that  instant,  confused  powers  of  reflection, 
thought  of  the  signal  imparted  to  him  at  his  departure 
from  the  city  of  New  York,  by  the  fathers  of  those 
he  now  had  under  his  charge  and  keeping;  and,  ven- 
turing its  use,  gave  it  to  the  servant.  It  was  well 
understood  and  very  promptly  returned.  That  done, 
the  gentleman  said : — 

"  Will  you  conduct  me  to  your  master?" 

Sanco,  making  a  respectful  bow,  by  way  of  a  wil- 
lingness to  obey  his  request,  replied,  "  Please  follow 
me,"  and  taking  a  circuitous  route  to  the  mansion, 
the  stranger  was  soon  in  the  presence  of  him  and  his 
lady,  who  on  the  preceding  night,  had  played  the 
parts  of  tavern-keeper  and  landlady  of  the  mountain 
inn. 

The  appearance  and  language  of  Mr.  Standly  be- 
spoke that  of  the  gentleman;  and,  not  now  as  had 
been  necessarily  the  case  on  the  last  evening,  did 
reserve  and  cautious  expressions  govern  his  second 
interview  with  Leftridge  and  his  lady.  He  spoke 
freely  of  the  plans  which  had  been  devised,  and  that 
were  then  being  carried  into  effect,  with  a  view  to  the 
happiness  of  the  sons  of  his  patrons  ;  and  the  extent  of 
credit  and  honor,  this  would  be  so  justly  due  to,  and 
redound  upon  the  fair  ones  who  had  become  engaged 
in  them,  and  who  had  thus  consented  to  stoop  in 
order  to  conquer. 

In  speaking  of  the  young  ladies  he  said : — "  I  was 
agreeably  surprised,  as  well  as  much  amused,  at  the 
ease  and  gracefulness  with  which  they  executed  their 


164  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAT. 

first  act  this  morning  in  Pantomime:  and  one  happy 
effect  that  it  has  had,  where  it  should,  is  the  anxiety 
already  entertained  by  my  young  gentlemen,  to  know 
who  the  unfortunates,  as  they  expressed  it,  are ;  and 
from  whence  such  exquisite  beauty  of  form  and  face 
came.  In  entire  ignorance  of  the  plans  made  for  their 
benefit,  they  seem  to  be  in  ecstacies,  relative  to  how 
they  may  become  acquainted  with  those  deaf  and 
dumb  nymphs  of  the  mountain,  so  termed  by  them. 
And,  continued  Standly,  should  the  ladies  be  equally 
successful  in  their  future,  as  they  have  proven  them- 
selves to  have  been  in  their  first  attempts,  the  deaf 
and  dumb  will  hear  and  speak  when  it  shall  become 
necessary,  to  such  effect  only,  as  will  make  those  for 
whose  sake  they  are  now  so  happy. 

After  a  minute  description  of  the  plan  intended 
had  been  given  him,1  together  with  a  knowledge  of 
the  borrowed  name  under  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Left- 
ridge  were  to  be  spoken  of  and  addressed  by,  and 
those  of  Ellen  and  Susan  Dieroffe,  by  which  Miss 
Leftridge  and  Miss  Withrow  were  to  be  known, 
Standly  withdrew  from  the,  presence  of  the  Colonel 
and  his  lady,  and  winding  his  way  from  as  he  had 
done  to  the  mansion,  was  soon  with  his  young  friends 
at  the  tavern.  On  entering  their  apartment,  he  found 
it  vacated,  and  feeling  chilly  from  the  effects  of  his 
walk,  seated  himself  by  the  fire.  Here,  and  after  be- 
coming comfortably  warm,  he  thought  of  how  best  to 
wile  away  the  temporary  absence  of  his  fellow- 
travellers. 

His  attention  was  drawn  to  the  table,  where  he 
discovered  their  pencils  were  left  lying,  each  upon  a 
sheet  of  paper,  on  both  of  which  were  discovered, 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  165 

half-finished  and  hastily-sketched  drawings  of  female 
heads,  evidently  intended  to  represent  the  ladies  seen 
by  them  that  morning — with  here  and  there  signs  of 
the  invocation  of  the  Muses. 

"This  is  as  it  should  be;  and  if  thus  now,  what 
will  it  arrive  at  in  the  progress  of  mysteries  surround-' 
ing  them  ?"  thought  Standly,  as  he  carefully  replaced 
everything  as  he  had  found  it.  He  had  scarcely  done 
so,  before  the  young  gentlemen  entered  the  room. 

Having  resumed  his  seat,  and  his  head  resting 
upon  one  hand,  Standly  seemed  to  be  indifferent  to 
anything  in  the  room,  and  more  in  the  reflective  than 
talkative  humor.  In  a  few  moments  his  attention  was 
called  to  a  question  asked. 

"What,"  said  one  of  the  young  men,  "do  you 
think  of  those  sketches,  made  of  the  lovely  fair  ones 
seen  by  accident  this  morning?  Don't  judge  them 
too  severely,"  continued  the  speaker,  "for  the  time 
may  come,  though  now  in  a  rough  and  rude  state, 
that  we  may  be  allowed  the  privilege  of  putting  a 
better  finish  to  them.  But  no !"  he  continued,  "  why 
do  I  say  so,  and  why  the  indulgence  of  such  an  idea  ? 
their  faces  may  never  be  seen  by  us  again,  however 
beautiful  and  equally  intellectual  the  possessors  of 
them  may  be ;  and  if  so,  who  can  bear  the  thought  of 
marrying  the  deaf  and  dumb?" 

"  I  think  you  would  Venture  it,"  replied  Standly  ; 
"and  from  the  effects  of  the  first  sight  of  those 
mountain  girls  have  had  upon  your  minds,  all  the 
defects  I  could  possibly  point  out  upon  the  sketches 
shown  me,  would  not,  though  allowing  me  the  plea- 
sure of  being  known  correct  in  my  criticisms,  pre- 
vent your  continued  attempts,  even  without  another 


166  THE   HEIEESSES   OF    FOTHERIXGAY. 

sitting,  to  place  them  more  perfect  before  one  who  I 
think  caught  at  last,  and  whom  I  have  heard  say, 
'She  must  be  a  Venus  of  whom  I  would  ask  the 
question,  Will  you  marry  me  ?' 

"  Both  of  you  have  spoken  thus  to  me,  and  now  it 
seems,"  continued  Standly,  "  that,  far  from  your  native 
city,  where  wealth  and  beauty  abound,  and  amid  the 
expansive  display  of  Nature's  hills  and  lofty  moun- 
tains, you  are  disposed  to  become  tamed — and  this, 
too,  by  entire  strangers,  of  whom  you  know  nothing; 
and  if  you  did,  might  perhaps  indignantly  spurn  your 
offers;  or,  in  an  opposite  light,  whose  position,  com- 
pared with  that  of  your  own,  in  birth,  rank,  and 
wealth,  place  them,  for  aught  you  know,  out  of  the 
.sphere  of  your  further  notice.  We  must,"  continued 
he,  "  leave  this  place  shortly,  and  in  our  journey  still 
west,  may  find  others  more  worthy  the  admiration  of 
both  of  you — as  you  appear  inclined  to  love — than 
those  now  the  subjects  of  your  remarks." 

The  object  in  view  with  Standly  was  to  create  an 
excitement,  and  wish  expressed  by  his  young  com- 
panions to  continue  where  they  were.  To  his  allusion 
of  a  departure,  they  both  spoke  against,  and  expressed 
desires  to  take  up  their  quarters  there  for  the  winter. 
Their  gentlemanly  friend  seemed,  at  first,  to  disap- 
prove of  the  measure,  and,  after  an  appearance  of 
much  reluctance,  and  apparent  objection,  accord  their 
wish — agreed  to  do  so. 

Here  reader,  I  ask,  very  respectfully,  your  permis- 
sion to  leave  our  travellers  for  a  second  time  in  your 
mental  keeping,  in  order  to  discover  the  further  ope- 
rations of  the  huntsmen,  who  will  represent  as  now 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERINGAY.  167 

being  under  the  direction  and  control  of  the  ladies 
spoken  of  in  the  second  paragraph  of  the  present 
chapter. 


CHAPTER  XXIY. 

What  shall  I  say  to  attract  your  attention  ?     Read  and  you  will  see,  if 
I  shall  have  done  so. 

IT  was  not  so  much  the  intention,  of  the  huntsmen  to 
employ  their  time  that  day  in  procuring  the  wild  game 
of  the  mountains,  as  it  was  their  wish  and  pleasure  to 
be  identified  with  two,  for  whom  they  entertained  high 
regard,  and  whose  objects  in  being  with  them  on  the 
present  occasion,  was  to  further  a  plan  already  devised, 
to  get  possession  of  the  tame  game  that  had  been 
recently  seen  in  their  neighborhood. 

The  cabin  of  Close,  another  whose  name  has  also 
appeared  in  a  former  part  of  this  work,  was  their  then 
place  of  destination ;  and  in  order  to  apprize  his  family 
of  the  intended  visit  of  the  ladies  and  their  company. 
Close  had  left  the  tavern,  wher-e,  it  may  be  remem- 
bered by  my  readers,  he  had  assembled  with  others 
on  the  night  before  —  that  morning,  long  ere  the 
approach  of  day  appeared  upon  the  horizon. 

Close  was  poor,  and  in  that  particular  was  not  dis- 
similar to  many  of  us,  but  in  other  respects,  eminently 
so.  He  possessed  a  generous  heart ;  many  are  strangers 
to  such  a  throb.  He  was  nobly  kind  to  his  fellow  men 
in  the  hour  of  distress ;  many,  vastly  many,  are  per- 
fectly indifferent  to  a  knowledge  and  sight  of  such 


168  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

fates.  He  was  particularly  grateful  for  favors  bestowed  ; 
many  arrogate  to  themselves  honor  in  thinking  of 
them  no  longer  than  the  time  occupied  in  their  recep- 
tion. He  was  unassuming  and  retiring  in  his  manners ; 
many  are  too  vain  to  comprehend  the  worth  of  such 
virtues,  and  too  ignorant  to  sustain  themselves  in  the 
sphere  where  an  overcharge  of  modest  impudence, 
created  from  the  idea  of  wealth  alone — have  placed 
them.  He  was  an  humble,  though  brave  soldier  in  the 
army  of  the  revolution ;  fought  coolly  and  deliberately 
for  the  rights  of  his  country,  and  at  the  time  of  which 
I  am  writing,  was  a  neighbor  of  his  former  commander ; 
he  was  acquainted  with  and  knew  well  the  fathers  of 
the  young  strangers  then  in  his  neighborhood,  and 
himself  and  family  were  the  warm  and  zealous  friends 
of  the  ladies  before  us. 

Something  more  than  three  hours  were  occupied  in 
their  slow  and  single  file  order  of  movement,  before 
the  termination  of  their  morning  ride,  which  brought 
the  gentlemen  and  the  ladies  accompanying  them  to 
the  cabin  door  of  Close.  Here  they  were  received 
with  that  undissembling  kindness  and  hospitality, 
striking  the  imagination  at  no  time  and  place  with 
more  forcible  pleasure  than  when  it  is  made  manifest 
at  an  hour  unexpected,  and  amid  the  rural  pleasures 
of  a  backwoodsman's  hut.  His  residence  was  a  double 
log  cabin,  standing  at  the  edge  of  a  narrow  valley, 
affording  a  few  acres  of  level  ground.  Upon  that  spot 
he  sowed  and  reaped  yearly  a  scanty  subsistence. 
With  that  and  what  was  afforded  him  by  the  grand 
aid  of  Nature's  God,  in  the  plentiful  number  of  bears, 
deer,  and  turkeys,  with  which  the  mountains  and 
valleys  about  him  abounded,  he  seemed  contented. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY.  169 

Added  to  that  was  the  routine  of  the  province  of  his 
wife,  and  two  only  grown  daughters,  in  the  neatness 
of  every  thing  about  them,  proclaiming  them  at  once 
above  that  of  sloth.  And  the  attentions  of  two  only 
sons,  then  young  men,  upon  their  mother,  sisters,  and 
aged  father,  bespoke  the  calm  and  happy  bosoms  of 
that  poor,  yet  honest  family. 

A  nine  mile  ride  that  morning,  through  valleys  and 
over  the  mountains,  had  given  to  our  party  a  good 
appetite,  and  while  they  were  partaking  of  a  com- 
fortable breakfast,  the  subject  of  conversation  was  the 
Cavern,  formerly  spoken  of,  and  of  which  our  ladies 
and  their  attendants  were  in  search. 

In  the  course  of  his  rambles,  Close  had  discovered 
it  many  years  ago,  and  remarked  at  the  time  I  am 
speaking  of,  "that  at  the  period  he  had  done  so,  no 
idea  intruded  itself  upon  his  imagination,  that  it 
would  ever  be  put  to  the  use  it  was  now  intended  for. 

With  a  view  the  better  to  aid  his  yo  ng  friends, 
Close  had,  with  his  sons  explored  the  cave  a  few  days 
before,  and  on  the  present  occasion  had  provided 
several  fine  pine  torches  preparatory  to  their  intended 
entry  of  it. 

"  It  is  about  a  mile  distant  from  my  cabin,"  said 
he,  and  addressing  the  ladies,  remarked,  "in  the  first 
apartment  you  must  divest  yourselves  of  your  riding 
dresses,  for  you  will  find  yourselves  plenty  warm 
without  them,  before  you  return  to  that  room." 

In  a  short  time  after  he  had  finished  his  remark, 
the  party  were  on  their  way,  piloted  by  him  and  his 
son,  and  were  at  the  end  of  the  next  mile  in  view  of 


170          THE  HEIRESSES  OF  FOTHERINGAY. 

THE  CAVERX. 

That  grand  and  awfully  sublime  display  of  nature's 
rude  work  under  the  supervision  of  the  Great  Archi- 
tect of  heaven  and  earth,  was  at  the  south  base  of  one 
of  the  neighboring  spurs  of  the  mountains,  and  led  to 
through  a  meandering  and  narrow  vale.  If  rny  read- 
ers will  bear  with,  and  allow  me  the  time  to  do  so  in, 
I  will  with  as  little  display  as  possible  attempt  a 
description  of  the  cave,  as  upon  it  depends  another 
starting  point  of  incident;  serving  in  its  turn  to  make 
the  work  at  which  I  am  engaged  one  of  interest,  or 
to  beguile,  at  least,  a  leisure  moment,  for  those  who 
may  read  it 

The  edifice  (if  I  may  so  express  it)  presents  at  first 
view,  an  exterior  perpendicular  front  of  rock,  lying 
in  long  strata  and  as  if  piled  by  art,  one  upon  the  top 
of  the  other,  for  more  than  forty  feet  high,  and  some 
twenty-five  feet  wide.  At  the  summit  of  that  wall  is 
a  projecting  or  shelving  rock  extending  outward 
about  four  feet,  the  appearance  of  which  indicates  a 
thickness  of  some  six  feet.  Upon  it,  and  emanating 
from  a  plentiful  supply  of  rich  soil,  stood,  in  majestic 
splendor,  two  beautiful  spruce  pine  trees  of  thick  and 
tall  dimensions,  accompanied  by  several  cedars,  all  of 
which  conveyed  the  impression  to  the  mind,  that  they 
were  there  stationed  as  talismans  in  His  works  of  the 
"  Great  I  Am." 

At  a  distance  in  height  of  several  hundred  feet,  in 
the  rear  of  and  from  the  top  of  the  cave,  are  seen  huge 
masses  of  rock  hanging,  in  appearance,  as  it  were,  by  the 
most  slender  fastenings,  the  least  touch  of  which  would 
set  them  at  liberty  to  tumble  in  awful  and  terrific  dis- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERIXGAY.  171 

play  down  the  steep  side  of  the  mountains,  laying  in 
one  vast  pile  of  ruins,  the  beautiful  foliage,  that  in 
native  splendor  vie  with  each  other,  in  the  growth 
of  the  lofty  pine,  compact  cedar  and  wide-spread 
branches  of  the  chesnut  tree. 

The  door,  or  rather  entrance,  leading  to  the  interior 
of  the  cavern,  is  a  space  of  about  four  by  three  feet, 
and  is  situated  near  the  centre  of  the  front  or  outer 
wall. 

That  door  led  into  a  hall  or  ante-chamber,  about 
twelve  feet  square,  the  perpendicular  walls  of  which 
are  something  like  ten  feet  in  height,  of  a  dingy  white 
color,  and  what  is  most  remarkable  about  the  first 
room,  was,  that  its  walls  and  earthen  floor  were  en- 
tirely dry.  To  the  left  of  the  entrance,  and  within  a 
few  feet  of  the  corner  of  that  room,  was  an  aperture 
extending  through  the  wall  about  midway  between 
the  floor  and  ceiling.  It  was  of  an  oblong  figure 
about  six  inches  in  length  and  four  inches  wide.  In 
that  room,  the  whole  party  availing  themselves  of  the 
advice  given  by  Close  to  the  ladies,  left  everything 
they  could  possibly  do  without  in  their  subterraneous 
route. 

Leaving  the  front  room  there  is  a  narrow  descent  of 
about  ten  feet,  terminating  at  the  commencement  of  a 
passage  four  feet  wide,  the  walls  and  height  of  which 
being  much  like  those  of  the  first  room. 

That  passage  led  to  a  fissure  at  some  distance,  ra- 
ther difficult  than  otherwise  to  enter,  and  opening 
into  two  magnificent  apartments,  presented  a  pitch  of 
wall,  a  dome-like  appearance  of  roof,  of  something 
like  twenty  feet  in  height  and  some  eighteen  feet 
square.  Here,  in  the  grandeur  of  the  display  of  her 


172  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

works,  Nature  seerns  to  have  been  disposed  to  a  better 
finish,  of  those  apartments  than  the  exploring  party 
had  met  with,  thus  far,  in  their  subterranean  dis- 
coveries. 

From  the  opposite  sides  of  the  wall,  and  as  if  in- 
tended for  a  partition,  was  seen,  at  a  distance  of  about 
six  feet,  a  crystal  transparency  of  about  two  inches  in 
thickness,  and  some  ten  feet  in  height;  there  it  seems 
to  have  been  met  by  a  similar  piece  of  workmanship 
extending  from  one  main  wall  to  the  other,  exhibiting 
in  its  course  a  sort  of  fluted  column,  placed  at  nearly 
a  proportionate  distance  apart,  leaving  below  its  archi- 
tectural range  an  aperture  or  door  leading  from  one 
to  the  other  of  the  rooms,  of  about  six  feet  in  width 
and  ten  in  height.  In  the  centre  of  each  room  stood 
a  crystal  column  over  a  foot  in  diameter  at  the  base ; 
with  an  ascent  till  reaching  the  under  part  of  the 
dome,  they  were  slightly  united  at  the  ceiling.  The 
walls  and  ceiling  were  perfectly  dry,  exhibiting  a  beau- 
tifully white  appearance,  the  dirt  floors  being  here 
and  there  interspersed  with  rock  about  the  height  of 
the  seat  of  a  chair,  and  level  upon  the  surface,  gave  to 
the  chambers  more  the  appearance  of  being  inhabited 
by  human  beings  than  otherwise. 

Upon  leaving  the  rooms  just  described,  the  route  is 
a  still  more  difficult  one,  till  reaching  a  third  and  last 
apartment,  much  smaller  than  either  of  the  others, 
and  in  a  direct  line  with  those  spoken  of,  the  eye  is 
met  by  the  sight  of  a  large  number  of  crystals,  par- 
taking of  various  forms  and  hanging  in  transparent 
clusters  from  the  ceiling.  The  walls  of  this  apart- 
ment wore  a  more  dingy  than  other  aspect,  and  were 
here  and  there  interspersed  with  the  drippings  of 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  173 

water  upon  its  flooring  of  solid  rock ;  the  crevices  of 
which  seemed  to  conduct  these  limpid  and  sounding  in- 
truders upon  the  otherwise  silent  and  solemn  grandeur 
of  the  scene,  to  perpetual  exile,  thereby  keeping  the 
floor  clear  of  water,  though  constantly  damp.  Through 
that  room  was  seen  passing  a  beautiful,  but  small 
stream  of  water,  clear  and  cold,  the  rippling  sound  of 
which  as  it  moves  rapidly  over  and  amidst  the  rocks 
in  its  course,  falls  delightfully  upon  the  ear  of  the 
listener.  - 

To  the  cavern  before  us,  and  into  the  room  of  which 
I  am  speaking,  judging  from  appearances  about  it, 
and  at  a  time  not  now  known  and  to  be  spoken  of 
from  personal  knowledge  by  any  one  living,  some  un- 
fortunates had  retired  for  refuge  and  for  safety.  Or 
may  have  been  taken  during  the  ravages  of  savage 
warfare  and  murder;  and  where,  too,  others  may  have 
been  dragged  by  savage  bandits  amid  scenes  of  horror 
and  despair.  There  the  victims  of  outrage,  they  may 
have  watched  and  listened,  and  listened  and  watched 
again  and  again,  till  the  last  pulse  of  raving  humanity 
resting  upon  Hope's  slender  anchor,  took  its  eternal 
flight.  Or  where  some  innocent  and  helpless  fair  one 
has  breathed  her  last  under  insolent  familiarites  and 
inflictions  of  the  robber  and  assassin,  leaving  her  vio- 
lated and  mangled  remains  buried  far  beneath  the 
summit  of  towering  mountains. 

Here,  reader,  suffer  me  to  add,  that  the  room  last 
described  was  designated  and  talked  of  long  after  the 
events  giving  rise  to  this  work,  as  the  Chamber  of 
Death. 

The  day  had  become  far  spent  when  the  ladies  and 
their  command  had  returned  to  the  front  chamber  of 


174  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

the  cavern.  Here  an  hour's  conversation  ensued  rela 
tive  to  the  best  mode  of  comfort,  accompanied  by  an 
apparently  severe  treatment,  to  be  observed  and  prac- 
ticed toward  those  intended  to  be  confined  there ;  and 
the  party  invested  of  what  they  had  divested  them- 
selves, were  soon  on  their  way  in  social  glee,  upon  the 
events  of  the  day,  to  the  cabin  of  Close^  There  a  like 
marked  attention  to  that  spoken  of  in  the  morning 
was  shown,  and  after  partaking  of  a  dinner,  which 
their  ramble  had  created  a  good  relish  for,  the  ladies 
and  their  attendants,  with  the  exception  of  Close  and 
his  son,  set  out  for  the  mansion. 

They  had  not  proceeded  far  before  the  huntsman, 
spoken  of  as  occupying,  that  morning,  the  centre  of 
the  line  described,  asked  for,  and  obtained  permission 
of  the  ladies  to  go  in  advance  ;  and  getting  a  rifle  and 
equipments  from  one  of  the  number  present,  was  soon 
lost  to  their  view. 

The  party  had  just  descended  into  the  valley  that 
led  to  the  mansion,  when  they  discovered,  at  a  few 
hundred  yards  from  them,  our  huntsman  dismounted, 
and  standing  by  the  side  of  his  horse — having  upon 
its  back,  and  made  fast  by  means  of  the  bark  of  the 
hickory  tree,  across  and  in  the  seat  of  his  saddle,  one 
of  the  largest  and  finest  order  of  bucks. 

"  This,"  said  he,  as  the  company  advanced  to  where 
he  was  standing,  with  one  hand  resting  on  the  body 
of  the  deer,  "will  soon  serve  two  purposes;  one,  to 
cover  our  movements  of  to-day,  under  the  pretext  of 
a  hunt  in  the  opinions  of  the  travellers — the  other, 
to  afford  them  the  opportunity,  very  rarely,  if  ever 
before  enjoyed  by  them,  of  partaking  of  a  saddle  of 
vension  prepared  among  the  wilds  of  the  frontier." 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  175 

It  was  now  sun-set,  and  ere  our  party  had  arrived 
at  the  tavern,  they  were  lighted  on  their  way  by  the 
brilliant  beams  of  the  moon,  here  and  there  pene- 
trating the  thick  foliage  of  the  forest  lying  in  the  re- 
mainder of  their  route  to  the  mansion.  Upon  arriving 
at  the  tavern  the  like  order  was  observed  as  practiced 
in  the  morning ;  and  when  the  ladies  had  resumed 
their  stations,  and  had  given  the  dumb  signal  of  adieu, 
returned  in  like  manner  by  their  associates,  they  and 
their  two  attendants  before  spoken  of,  were  soon  lost 
sight  of ;  while  the  others,  leaving  their  horses  in  the 
care  of  servants,  were  soon,  with  their  trophy  of  the 
day,  in  the  bar-room  of  the  tavern. 

After  partaking  of  something  to  drink,  and  becoming 
comfortably  warmed  by  the  fire,  one  that  seemed  to 
have  been  left  in  command  of  the  company,  gave  an 
order  to  skin  the  deer,  and  sent  a  message  to  the  land- 
lady requesting  a  delay  of  the  supper  hour,  with  a 
promise  of  sending  her  some  steaks.  In  the  presence 
of  our  travellers,  the  noble  buck  was  stripped  of  his 
coat,  and  that  night  the  strangers  partook  of  his  flesh, 
at  the  same  table,  and  in  company  with  the  huntsmen. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

The  best  modes  of  arriving  at  ends  intended  for  good,  are  calmness 
of  deportment  and  a  calculating  intellect;  for  the  one  engenders 
firmness,  the  other  execution. 

DURING  the  day  that  had  just  passed  with  them,  the 
junior  portion  of  our  travellers  spent  much  of  it  in 


176  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

attempted  discoveries,  relative  to  passing  events,  but 
with  no  better  success  than  their  efforts  at  the  break- 
fast hour  with  Sanco. 

Shortly  after  the  return  of  Standly  to  the  tavern, 
from  his  morning's  walk,  and  conversation  held  with 
his  young  companions  there,  Melvin  made  his  appear- 
ance at  the  room  of  his  guests. 

"  I  should  have  made  my  appearance  before  you  at  an 
earlier  hour  than  the  present  one,  gentlemen,  to  know 
if  any  thing  you  may  desire  to  know  or  have  done,  by 
which  to  promote  your  pleasure ;  as  I  was  once  con- 
versant with  the  restlesness  and  instability  of  youth, 
and  now  with  the  sober  and  dispassionate  reflections 
incident  to  an  advanced  life,  personifications  of  both 
the  periods  are  at  this  time  before  me,"  continued 
Melvin,  "  and  if  old  Melvin,  the  tavern-keeper,  in  this 
remote  region  from  your  fashionable  city  of  New 
York,  can  add  to  the  gaiety  of  the  one,  and  more 
solid  comforts  of  the  other,  he  is  at  your  service  to 
command  in  doing  so.  And,"  continued  he,  "in  thus 
offering  myself  as  an  assistant  in  the  promotion  of 
whatever  comfort,  amusement  and  happiness  falling  to 
your  respective  lots,  please  excuse  one  of  the  charac- 
teristics of  the  people  of  my  state  in  allowing  me  the 
pleasure  of  knowing  your  names  ?" 

No  sooner  had  the  inquiry  been  made,  than  he  was 
answered  by  one  of  the  young  gentlemen,  saying, 

"  You  are  excusable,  Mr.  Melvin,  and  we  cannot  be 
otherwise  than  happy  in  making  your  acquaintance." 
Then,  gracefully  rising  from  his  chair,  continued: 
"In  that  gentleman,"  (politely  waving  his  hand 
toward  his  senior  companion,)  "you  behold  Mr. 
Standly ;  in  this  one,"  (turning  to  his  young  friend,) 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  177 

"you  see  Mr.  Laurence,  and  in  myself  Mr.  Hyne; 
and,"  continued  he,  "  in  your  further  acquaintance 
with  George  Leftridge  Laurence  and  Samuel  Laurence 
Hyne,  and  our  estimable  friend,  Mr.  Standly,  you 
will,  I  hope,  find  no  cause  to  regret  our  stopping  at 
your  house,  and  our  stay  until  the  more  pleasant 
season  of  spring,  at,  as  you  term  it,  the  '  Mountain 
Inn.' " 

"  I  am  honored,  sir,  by  your  preference,"  replied 
Melvin ;  and  after  a  few  cursory  remarks  upon  the 
inclemency  of  the  season,  the  best  modes  of  enjoy- 
ment for  his  guests,  and  the  general  monotony  of  a 
winter  spent  among  the  mountains,  as  operating  upon 
the  minds  of  the  youthful  and  gay,  he  left  them  to 
the  enjoyment  of  pleasure,  or  whatever  else,  of  the 
ideas  produced  from  his  remarks. 

The  return  of  the  huntsmen  to  the  tavern  that 
evening,  also  added  to  the  multiplicity  of  thought 
occupying  the  minds  of  Laurence  and  Hyne;  and 
when  at  supper,  the  silence  with  which  their  attempts 
at  conversation  was  met,  were,  in  every  instance,  mat- 
ters of  no  small  share  of  regret  with  them.  Repulsed 
in  all,  however  polite,  of  their  attempts  to  draw  the 
mountaineers  into  conversation,  and  their  efforts  thus 
far  to  learn  who  the  deaf  and  dumb  ladies  were, 
where  they  lived,  by  whom  escorted  that  morning  to 
the  tavern,  from  thence  to  the  hunt,  and  on  their 
return  at  evening  remaining  in  utter  ignorance  still — 
all  had  an  opposite  effect  to  pleasure  upon  the  minds  of 
our  now  evidently  in  love  young  gentlemen. 

The  condition  of  their  minds,  and  the  position  in 
which  his  young  friends  were  now  placed,  were 
greatly  conducive  to  the  part  of  the  performance 


178  THE   HEIEESSES   OF  FOTHEKINGAY. 

assigned  him,  of  Standly;  and  eminently  so  to  the 
movements  of  Melvin,  as  well  as  to  the  ladies  and 
their  gallant  associates.  The  departure  of  the  latter, 
at  early  dawn  on  the  following  morning,  for  their 
respective  homes,  the  monotonous  and  dreary  appear- 
ance of  the  mountains,  that  had  the  preceding  night 
been  covered  by  the  fall  of  a  deep  snow,  were  all  con- 
siderable tributaries  to  inertness  of  mind  as  well  as 
body. 

That  morning,  while  standing  in  company  with  hia 
companions,  upon  the  porch  before  mentioned,  and 
looking  upon  the  scenes  surrounding  them,  Laurence, 
in  reply  to  some  remark  of  Standly,  in  allusion  to  the 
place  occupied  the  previous  morning  by  the  ladies, 
said : 

"  How  happily  would  it  wile  away  our  stay  here, 
had  Sam  and  myself,  with  each  his  pallet,  pencil  and 
brush  in  hand,  another  sight  of  the  ladies,  occupying 
this  morning  that  spot,  as  they  did  yesterday.  In 
such  a  sitting,  though  a  stolen  one,  as  the  first  has 
been,  we  should  reflect  such  light  upon  the  surround- 
ing snowy  landscape  as  would  at  once  display  a  bril- 
liancy lasting  as  life  upon  two  at  least  of  their  to  them 
unknown  friends." 

"  Still  becoming  more  tamed,"  replied  Standly,  in  a 
half-sneering  look,  and  indifferent  tone  of  voice.  "  Why 
could  not  both  of  you  have  thus  concentrated  your 
whole  minds  upon  two  of  your  own  State ;  where,  not 
blinded  with  regard  as  to  whom  they  might  be  in 
point  of  birth  and  wealth,  and  aided  by  the  sage  opin- 
ions of  others,  there  could  be  but  little,  if  any,  danger 
in  making  a  judicious  choice,  as  is  now,  for  aught  you 
know,  with  strong  probabilities,  the  case?" 


THE   HEIRESSES   OB'   FOTTIEKINGAY.  179 

"What  are  your  opinions  of  it,  Sara?"  continued 
Standly. 

"  It  is  too  cold  to  discuss  the  matter  here — espe- 
cially as  the  ladies  are  not  present,"  replied  George, 
interrupting  him,  "and  I  move,"  continued  he,  "  an 
adjournment  to  our  room — there  to  continue  it." 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  returned  Standly,  when,  in 
the  next  moment,  the  ring  of  a  bell  announced  the 
breakfast  hour. 

Upon  entering  the  dining-room,  they  discovered, 
standing  at  the  table — each  one  having  hold  of  a  chair 
and  as  if  waiting  their  arrival — two  tall  and  very  gen- 
teelly dressed  young  men,  engaged  in  an  apparently 
earnest  conversation  with  Melvin. 

"  Please  be  seated,  gentlemen,"  said  the  latter,  and 
in  a  few  moments  after,  their  plates  were  all  served 
by  a  supply  of  fine  venison  steak,  rendered  still  more 
palatable  by  cups  of  hot  and  well-made  coffee,  with 
some  well-baked  light  rolls  of  wheaten  flour,  with 
other  incidentals  of  a  frontier  fare,  here  and  there 
dispersed  about  the  table. 

"  This  is  much  of  a  winter's  morning,  gentlemen," 
said  Melvin,  "and  I  hope  your  breakfast  will  serve 
the  double  purpose  of  additional  bodily  \varmth,  as 
well  as  being  taken  with  good  appetites." 

"  So  far  as  I  am  individually  concerned,  sir,"  replied 
Standly,  "I  can  assure  you,  that  both  will  be  the  case 
with  me." 

"  How  is  it  with  you,  Mr.  Laurence, — and  with  you, 
Mr.  Hyne?"  asked  Melvin. 

"For  my  part,"  replied  Laurence,  "your  fare  is  as 
it  has  been  and  will  doubtless  continue  during  our 
stay  with  you — good." 


180  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

"  That  is  what  I  shall  endeavor  to  have  it,"  was  the 
reply." 

"  And  you,  Mr.  Hyne,  what,  if  you  please  is  your 
opinion  ?"  continued  Melvin, — for  my  rule  is,  to  know 
the  worst,  and  in  knowing  of  it,  can,  in  all  matters  of 
life  exert  a  surer  preparation  for  the  best,  especially 
with  those  whose  friendship  I  wish  to  retain." 

"  Your  remark  is  rather  an  evasive  one,  as  regards 
me,"  replied  Hyne,  "and  so  far  as  it  is  so,  it  may  not 
be  prudent  for  me  to  inquire  into,  nor  even,  perhaps, 
my  province  to  know.  But  so  far  as  the  partaking  of 
a  breakfast  is  concerned,  and  in  view  of  the  general 
hospitality  extended  to  us,  I  must  cordially  concur 
with  my  two  friends  in  opinion." 

"Your  concurrence  with  your  friends,  in  opinion, 
touching  the  fare  and  hospitality  offered  is  gratifying," 
replied  Melvin,  who  at  that  instant,  as  if  he  had  for- 
gotten to  do  so,  addressing  himself  to  the  travellers, 
said,  "  Allow  me,  gentlemen,  to  introduce  to  you  my 
two  young  acquaintances,  Mr.  Dispatch  and  Mr. 
Eightquick."  By  that  time  they  had  all  partaken  of 
breakfast,  and  in  a  few  moments,  the  two  latter  gen- 
tlemen withdrew,  accompanied  by  Melvin,  when  the 
others  following  their  example  soon  entered  their  own 
apartment. 

"  What  could  Melvin  have  meant  ?"  said  Hyne,  as 
they  were  taking  their  seats,  "  in  the  last  part  of  his 
remark  to  me?  Something  that  I  cannot  comprehend, 
is  certainly  hidden  under  it,  and,  whatever  it  may  be, 
I  should  like  very  much  to  know.  And,"  he  con- 
tinued, "  what  adds  more  to  my  anxiety  is,  those  two 
gentlemen,  as  he  called  them  ;  I  caught  their  eyes  fre- 
quently and  knowingly  placed  upon  all  three  of  us. 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  181 

It  is  true  that  they  are  genteelly  dressed,  yet  all  are 
not  gentlemen  who  may  be  in  such  costume ;  and,  for 
my  part,  I  think  it  will  be  no*harm,  at  least,  to  watch 
them." 

"  How  can  you,  so  soon,  arrive  at  such  conclusions 
with  regard  to  the  young  men  ?"  said  Standly.  "  They 
are  to  us,  as  we  are  to  them,  strangers;  and  it  would 
be  illiberal,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  were  we  to  do  away* 
with  the  advantages  that  a  further  acquaintance  with 
them  would  give  us ;  and  substitute  in  its  stead — dis- 
trust and  suspicion.  It  is  said,"  continued  he,  "and  that 
in  a  volume  the  best  of  all  writings,  that  '  Sufficient 
to  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof;"  therefore,  in  the  cases 
before,  it  would  not  only  be  ungentlemanly,  but  ex- 
ceedingly ungenerous,  were  we  to  denounce  those  men, 
whom  you  have  just  now  said,  might  or  might  not  be 
gentlemen,  before  giving  them  an  opportunity  to  prove, 
either  the  one  or  the  other.  And  with  regard  to  the 
remarks  of  Melvin,  let  them  mean  what  they  may,  it 
will  be  eminently  to  our  advantage  to  take  no  excep- 
tions at  whatever  he  may  say,  however  direct  or  indi- 
rect his  remarks  and  allusions.  As  to  his  kindness, 
we  expect  to  be  so  long  debtors  for  a  hospitable  and 
very  comfortable  home  in  the  stormy  depth  of  winter." 

"  You  have  reasoned  well,"  replied  Laurence.  Then 
addressing  himself  to  Hyne,  said:  "  Come  what  may, 
Sam,  we  owe  it  as  a  duty  to  ourselves  to  take  all  pa- 
tiently. This  old  Melvin  may  be  a  means  placed 
within  our  reach,  by  which  to  find  out,  and  see  again, 
the  originals  of  our  attempt  at  art." 

"  Well,"  replied  Hyne,  "  it  is  said  that,  '  amidst 
counsel  there  is  safety,'  and  instead  of  maintaining 
my  intended  position,  I  will  assume  another  more 


182  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

lenient,  and  receive  and  treat,  if  I  should  ever  meet 
with  them  again,  those  to  whom  we  were  introduced 
this  morning  with  becoming  civility. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

Perseverance  points   to  preferment,  and  ap2>lication   to  the  possession 

of  it. 

THE  cold  weather  that  had  then  commenced  its 
influence  over  all  animate,  as  well  as  inanimate  na- 
ture, continued,  and  for  several  days  our  travellers 
were  necessarily  compelled  to  keep  within  doors. 

During  this  time,  the  constant  supply  of  wood  pro- 
ductive of  warm  fires,  and  other  conveniences  desired 
by  them,  were  all  very  strictly  attended  to  by  Melvin. 
Sanco,  was  placed  at  their  order  and  control  with 
particular  instructions  to  obey  them  in  attentions  to 
their  every  expressed  wish — save  that  of  a  direct  or 
indirect  disclosure  of  the  plans  being  put  into  execu- 
tion at  the  mansion.  The  like  order  as  related  to 
those  plans,  was  also  given  to  the  servants  of  Fother- 
ingay,  as  well  as  to  those  of  and  about  the  "Mountain 
Inn."  To  any  enquiries  that  might  be  made  of  them 
by  Laurence  and  Hyne,  all  were  instructed  to  make 
no  reply — save  that  of  seeing  the  signal  already  men- 
tioned, by  placing  the  forefinger  of  the  right  hand 
perpendicularly  across  their  lips.  And  in  regard  to 
Standly,  after  and  not  before  the  signal  given  in  like 
manner  by  him  to  them,  all  were  instructed  to  con- 
verse with,  freely,  and  render  him  any  service  required, 


THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  183 

with  a  further  injunction,  that  their  conversations 
with  him  were  to  be  at  times  and  places,  remote  as 
possible  from,  and  out  of  reach  of  the  hearing  and 
even  sight  of  Laurence  and  Hyne. 

One  day,  and  after  having  become  tired  in  a  close 
application  at  reading,  in  which  particular  they  had 
been  plentifully  supplied,  by  the  almost  daily  profu- 
sion of  different  works^  brought  into  their  room  by 
Sanco — Laurence  happened  to  take  from  the  table  a 
work  upon  "Landscape  Drawings  and  Painting." 

"  If  all  things,"  said  he,  "  were  as  appropriate  to 
our  desires  here  as  by  chance,  I  have  found  this 
volume  to  be,  the  climax  of  pleasure  might  attain  its 
zenith  and  hopes  of  a  future,  be  realized,  from  cer- 
tainties of  the  present.  But,  as  it  is,  we  must  make 
the  best  we  can  of  our  condition,  and  lose  sight  of 
nothing  out  of  which,  a  pleasure,  for  the  time-being 
may  be  derived.  This  volume  reminds  me  of  our 
painting  apparatus  which  you  remember,  Sam,  our 
beloved  mothers  so  earnestly  recommended  that  we 
should  bring  along  with  us.  What  say  you,"  continued 
Laurence,  "to  each  one  of  us  taking  a  landscape 
drawing  of  this  romantic  as  beautiful  winter  scenery 
surrounding  us,  not  forgetting  the  'Mountain  Inn,' 
and  philosophic  'Phiz,'  of  its  true — very  kind,  yet 
deep-thoughted  landlord,  old  Melvin  ?" 

"  I  have  no  objection  to  doing  so,"  replied  Hyne. 

"  Well,  then,"  returned  Laurence,  "  to-morrow  morn- 
ing we  will  begin,  each  one  at  his  work." 

On  the  following  morning  was  seen  all  their  draw- 
ing and  painting  material,  necessary  to  a  commence- 
ment, spread  upon  an  additional  table  that  had  been 
ordered  by  them  into  their  apartment ;  and  whenever 


184  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

the  weather  would  admit  of  it,  our  young  friends  were 
seen  occasionally  in  long  walks  taking  observations; 
sometimes  at  the  tops,  and  at  others  at  the  foot  of  the 
nearest  and  different  spurs  of  the  main  chain  of  moun- 
tains. Here,  by  the  aid  of  their  telescopes,  on  scenes 
at  a  distance,  they  were  enabled  to  convey  to  the 
mind  correct  impressions  of  the  surrounding  country, 
and  thus,  day  after  day,  were  afforded  a  rich  display 
of  Nature's  works  for  the  employment  of  their  pen- 
cils, and  the  exercise  of  a  talent  liberally  bestowed 
upon  them  by  the  Qrand  Author  of  such  gifts,  em- 
bellished by  the  mixture  of  genius,  taste  and  appli- 
cation. 

One  evening,  after  a  day  spent  in  intent  application 
at  their  work,  and  after  they  had  retired  from  the 
supper  table,  the  subject  of  conversation  turned  upon, 
in  what  manner  most  conducive  to  their  amusement, 
that  evening  could  be  spent. 

"  We  often  know  nothing  of  wrhat  real  pleasure  is 
until  the  means  of  partaking  of  and  enjoying  it  have 
passed  beyond  our  control.  Then  the  mind  begins 
collecting,  as  it  were,  all  the  odds  and  ends  that  had, 
in  a  truant-like  manner,  escaped  a  better  and  more 
worthy  notice :  when  the  mishaps  of  such  neglect  rush 
like  a  torrent  upon  every  thought  of  the  soul,  and 
driving  into  an  irrecoverable  state  things  reflected 
upon  only  to  be  regretted." 

"  What  new  idea  has  now  struck  you?"  said  Standly 
to  Laurence,  as  he  had  finished  his  remark. 

"I  was  thinking,"  he  replied,  "of  how  pleasantly 
Sam  and  myself  could  pass  our  evenings,  could  it 
have  been  possible  for  us  to  have  brought  our  musical 
instruments  with  us ;  and  I  am  sure,"  continued  he, 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  185 

"  that  your  love  of  music  would  not  fail  to  afford  you 
pleasure  in  hearing  us  perform." 

"  That  is  true,"  returned  Standly ;  "the  like  thought 
has  occurred  to  me,  also.  Here  comes  Sanco ;  let  us 
ask  him  if  he  can  get  us  a  fiddle ;  it  often  occurs  that 
we  find  a  taste  for  rnusic  among  persons  of  his  color." 

Just  as  Standly  had  finished  his  remarks,  Sanco  en- 
tered their  room,  bearing  between  his  hands  a  large 
waiter,  upon  which  was  placed  three  bowls,  each  con- 
taining a  quantity  of  shell-bark  hickory-nut,  already 
cracked.  Upon  the-  waiter  was  also  placed  three 
plates,  a  salt-cellar,  nut-crackers  and  picks.  When 
placing  them  on  the  table,  he  said,  "  My  mistress  di- 
rected me  to  give  you  her  compliments,  gentlemen, 
and  to  say  that  she  had  sent  you  something  to  partake 
of,  and  at  which  to  pass  away  a  part  of  the  evening." 

"  Say  to  her  that  we  are  thankful  and  much  ob- 
liged," said  Standly. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  was  the  reply.  And  at  the  time  that  he 
was  leaving  the  room,  Laurence  said : 

"  Stay,  Sanco,  I  have  business  with  you." 

"  What  is  your  pleasure,  sir,"  said  Sanco. 

"  Are  there  any  of  your  color  here  who  perform  on 
the  violin  ?" 

"Yes,  sir,  master  has  two  or  three  servants  that 
saw  a  little  on  the  strings  between  the  bridge  and 
finger-board  of  a  fiddle." 

"  Do  you  think  they  would  loan  their  fiddles  for  a 
while?" 

"  To  who,  young  master  ?"  said  Sanco. 

"  To  Mr.  Hyne  and  me,"  replied  Laurence. 

"  Oh  yes,  sir!  and  do  you  wish  me  to  ask  in  your 
names  for  them  ?"  said  Sanco. 


186  THE   HEIRESSES   OP   FOTHERINGAY. 

"Yes!  and  that  to-night,"  replied  Laurence 

After  a  moment's  reflection,  Sanco  said, 

"  But  I  think  I  can  get  you  two  better  violins  than 
any  the  servants  have,  and  flutes  besides,  if  you  wish 
them." 

"Ah!  why  you  surprise  me.  Well,  will  you  try 
to  accommodate  us,  to-night  ?" 

"Certainly,  sir,"  replied  Sanco;  and  at  that  mo- 
ment he  left  their  room. 

"  .We  are  more  fortunate,  Sam,  than  I  could  have 
looked  for,"  said  Laurence;  "for,  in  the  first  place, 
we  have  the  pleasure  of  a  treat  from  our  landlady, 
and  in  the  next,  a  prospect  of  getting  musical  instru- 
ments." 

They  had  scarcely  finished  their  nut  repast,  before 
the  return  of  Sanco,  and  his  appearance  before  them, 
bearing  in  each  hand  an  elegant  mahogany  and  locked 
case. 

"  Here,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  are  articles  that  you 
are  not  used  to  see  in  such  a  wild  country  as  this." 

As  he  finished  the'  remark,  he  placed  the  key  of 
each  in  its  respective  lock.  Upon  opening  the  cases, 
they  were  presented  with  the  sight  of  two  fine-toned 
violins,  and  two  equally  sweet-toned  flutes ;  the  latter 
of  which  were  contained  in  recesses  made  for  that 
purpose  in  the  boxes,  and  alongside  of  the  violins. 
On  the  opposite  side  to  where  the  flutes  were  placed, 
were  recesses  for  the  bows,  and  at  each  end  of  the 
cases  were  places  for  strings  and  rosin. 

"  Eeally,  gentlemen,"  said  Laurence,  as  he  opened 
the  cases,  "  this  is  a  treat  to  us  worthy  of  our  sincere 
thanks,  in  this  remote  region.  Those  instruments  are, 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERITSTGAY.  187 

in  appearance,  what  the  fashionable  city  of  our  homes 
cannot  surpass." 

In  a  few  moments,  our  two  young  friends  had  tuned 
the  stringed  instruments,  and  tried  the  flutes. 

After  they  had  played  in  concert,  one  on  the  violin 
and  the  other  on  the  flute,  and  that  while  Sanco  was 
yet  in  the  room,  Laurence  said : 

"  To  whom  do  these  instruments  belong,  and  where 
did  you  get  them  ?" 

"  I  can't  tell,  sir,  whose  they  are  or  may  belong;  and 
all  I  can  say  is,  that  I  got  them  at  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Umsden." 

"  Who  is  Mr.  Urnsden  ?" 

"He  is  our  neighbor,  and  lives  on  the  hill,  near  the 
little  mountain,  sir." 

"  Has  he  a  wife  and  children  ?" 

"His  family  consists  of  a  wife,  and  four  children; 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  grown." 

"Are  his  daughters  handsome?" 

"  Of  that  you  would  be  better  able  to  judge  were 
you  to  see  them,  than  to  receive  my  opinion." 

"  Can  we  see  them,  do  you  think  ?" 

"  I  suppose  so,  sir." 

"  How,  Sanco  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,  sir  ;  but  before  you  go  away,  you  may 
do  so,  and  may  know  more  about  them  to  your  advantage 
than  either  of  you  do  now." 

"  You  seem  to  speak  knowingly,  Sanco,"  continued 
Laurence.  "  What  do  you  mean  by  saying  that  we 
may  know  more  about  them,  to  our  advantage,  than 
we  do  now  ?" 

"Nothing,  sir,"  replied  Sanco,  "only  that  I  think 
that  all  young  gentlemen  like  you  ought  to  be  fond 


188  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

of  the  society  of  ladies,  well-informed  and  rich,  (if,  in 
your  fancy,  you  can  combine  the  two);  and  as  for 
beauty,  sir,"  continued  Sanco,  "you  know  that  riches 
often,  and  sometimes  to  their  sorrow,  make  both  gen- 
tlemen and  ladies  think  each  other  handsome." 

"  Your  remarks  are  very  true,"  replied  Laurence, 
"  and  we  wish  to  know  something  more  of  your  ob- 
servations upon  the  nature  of  man.  Can  you  tell  us," 
continued  he,  "  who  the  young  ladies  were,  and  any- 
thing more  you  may  know  about  them,  that  were  seen 
by  us  the  morning  after  our  arrival  here,  and  who 
joined  the  young  men  in  their  deer  hunt  that 
morning  ?" 

"  I  beg  pardon,  young  Master,"  replied  Sanco,  bow- 
ing gracefully  to  Laurence,  as  he  spoke,  "for  calling 
your  attention  to  my  answer  to  your  question,  put  to 
me  the  morning  after,  in  the  dining  room." 

Here,  the  sound  of  a  bell  in  the  bar-room  attracting 
his  attention,  Sanco  was  soon  out  of  the  presence  of 
the  gentlemen. 

"  The  manners  and  actions  of  that  servant  portray 
another  allusion,  bound  up  in  mystery  to  us,"  con- 
tinued Laurence,  "  and  if  not  more  mistaken  than  I 
have  ever  yet  been,  that  servant  is  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  circumstances  having  taken  place,  or 
about  to  occur  here,  that  he  dare  not  speak  of,  or  if 
he  has  a  right  to  do  so,  thinks  us  not  of  that  class 
with  whom  he  would  speak  of  them." 

"  You  are  unusually  suspicious,"  replied  Standley, 
"  that  servant  is  a  stranger  to  us,  as  is  every  one  in 
this  house,  and  elsewhere  in  this  country.  Has  there 
not  been  a  marked  politeness  and  hospitality  extended 
to  us  by  all  we  have  yet  known  here  ?  Dare  we  say, 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  189 

in  view  of  truth,  that  that  servant  who  has  just  left 
us,  is  not,  meritoriously,  ranked  among  the  number 
from  whom  we  have  received  attentions?  And," 
continued  he,  "  think  for  a  moment  with  how  much 
pleasure  the,  with  you,  suspected  Sanco,  seemed  to 
enter  into  your  desires  of  amusement,  and  with  what 
kindness  of  heart  he  executed  the  successful  efforts, 
with  him,  of  procuring  the  fine  instruments  that  you 
and  Sam  now  hold  in  your  hands." 

"  Hemmed  in  again,  George,"  said  Hyne,  "and  that 
is  not  all,  for  you  had  nearly  violated  the  treaty  of 
alliance  between  you  and  your  suspicions,  when,  a  few 
days  ago,  and  on  a  similar  occasion  to  the  present 
one,  and  calling  my  attention  to  your  remark,  you 
said,  '  Come  what  may,  Sam,  we  owe  it  as  a  duty  to 
ourselves  to  take  all  patiently.'  Let  us  continue  to 
do  so,"  added  Hyne,  "  and  depend  upon  contingencies 
alone,  to  make  plain  in  the  future,  what  now  appears 
a  mystery,  in  the  movements  of  the  inhabitants  of 
these  mountains." 

"  I  am  not  convinced  of  error  when  I  submit  to 
opinions  in  opposition  to  my  own  judgment,"  replied 
Laurence.  "  Yet  in  furtherance  of  the  respect  in 
which  I  have  ever  held  the  sage  counsel  of  Mr. 
Standly,  and  especially  on  the  present  occasion,  it  is 
wise  at  least  for  me  to  do  so ;  and  to  yield  one,  to 
where  two  opinions  are  opposed." 

"  You  are  complimentary,  George,  and  in  it  act  in 
strict  accordance  with  your  good  sense,  which  will, 
one  day,  richly  pay  you  for  the  very  proper  use  ofSt 
now." 

In  a  few  moments  the  perturbations  of  Laurence 
became  calm  ;  and  the  remainder  of  that  night,,  till 


190  THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY. 

bed-time,  was  spent  in  a  musical  way  by  the  young 
gentlemen,  alternately  in  concert  upon  the  violin,  and 
then  upon  the  flute. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

Disquietude  borrows  from  the  capital  of  anxiety,  and  Doubt  endorses  the 
check. 

THE  rambling  exercises  of  our,  at  present,  station- 
ary, travellers,  though  for  the  purpose  of  completion 
of  their  landscape  views,  were  beginning  now,  not  to 
be  entirely  confined  to  that  of  inanimate  objects,  but 
also  to  those  of  personal  ones. 

The  occurrences  of  the  past  evening  had  commenced 
calling  into  operation  a  mental  exertion  in  the  minds 
of  Laurence  and  Hyne,  to  which  they  had,  heretofore, 
been  strangers.  The  conciliatory  position  occupied 
by  Standly,  as  related  to  them,  his  never-failing  and 
constantly  practised  attempts  at  argument,  carrying 
out  his  purposes  of  reconciliation  even  in  things  where 
resentment  might  become .  a  necessary  as  virtuous 
resort,  were  incidents  assuming  an  impetus  to  rapidity 
and  succession  of  thought  in  the  minds  of  our  young 
aspirants. 

Amidst  trains  of  reflection  upon  such  topics,  how- 
ever, the  well-balanced  minds  of  the  young  gentlemen 
in  question,  possessed  too  strong  a  preponderance  to 
admit  with  them  for  a  moment  the  slightest  indulgence 
of  disrespect.  Hence  their  interviews,  as  well  as  con- 
versations with  Standly  upon  all  subjects,  were  accom- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAT.  191 

panied  by  manifested  dispositions  of  profound  respect 
and  submissive  obedience ;  and  to  which  they  were 
prompted  by  an  inviolable  injunction  laid  upon  them 
by  their  mothers,  and  ratified  by  their  fathers. 

Their  thoughts  upon  the  subjects  of  which  I  have 
just  spoken,  did  not  find  with  Laurence  and  Hyne  a 
resting  place,  though  as  far  as  Standly  was  concerned 
in  them,  they  had  for  the  time  being  at  least,  arrived 
at  a  quietus.  Melvin.  it  'is  true,  was  kind,  polite  and 
marked  in  his  attentions  to  and  upon  them ;  yet,  there 
seemed  to  be  an  appearance  -of  design  about  him,  and 
accompanying  his  actions  that  they  could  not  see  into. 
Then,  there  was  their  servant  Sanco,  who,  as  they  had 
been  told  by  old  Melvin,  would  be  always  at  their 
service,  in  whatever  and  all  uses  they  might  think 
proper  to  place  him.  In  Sanco,  they  had  seen  a  ready 
willingness  to  obedience,  but  in  the  execution  of  their 
orders  by  him,  was  displayed  considerable  savoring 
to  precaution,  reserve,  cunning,  and  deep-laid  schem- 
ing. 

The  day  following  that  of  the  evening  in  which  they 
had  obtained  the  loan,  from  an  unknown  hand,  of  the 
instruments  spoken  of,  the  young  gentlemen  had  risen 
at  an  early  hour,  and  immediately  after  breakfast  bid 
an  adieu  for  the  day  to  the  mountain  inn,  on  their  ac- 
customed walk  for  landscape  purposes.  Sanco  had 
told  them  but  little  of  Urnsden,  and  much  less  of  that 
portion  of  his  family  and  particulars  of  it,  upon  which 
Laurence  had  wished  him  to  be  communicative  on  the 
night  previous,  and  in  that  state  of  affairs  with  them, 
Laurence  and  Hyne  had  determined  to  find  out  on 
that  day,  everything  in  their  reach  which  might  lead 
to  a  discovery  with  them  of  a  means  of  acquaintance 


192  THE    HEIRESSES    OF    FOTHERINGAY. 

with  Dierdoffe  and  the  family;  and,  as  far  as  possible, 
to  ascertain  who  the  deaf  and  dumb  ladies  were,  that 
they,  as  yet,  had  seen  but  twice,  and  that  before  the 
tavern  door.  In  furtherance  of  their  views,  they  had 
also  determined  to  know  definitely  at  what  place  the 
ladies  spoken  of,  and  who  had  already  given  them  so 
much  concern,  resided  amid  the  mountains  with  which 
they  were  then  surrounded. 

While  in  an  opposite  course  to  any  yet  taken  by 
them,  and  upon  the  top  of  the  "  Little  Mountain," 
spoken  of  by  Sanco.  Laurence  and  Hyne,  by  the  aid 
of  their  telescopes,  had  a  full  view  of  the,  as  is  well 
known  by  my  readers,  temporary  residence  of  Urns- 
den.  The  family  of  that  man,  according  to  the  ac- 
count of  it,  received  from  Sanco,  consisted  of  a  wife 
and  four  children,  but  at  the  time  that  account  was 
being  given  and  under  the  circumstances  attending  it, 
the  servant  seems  to  have  been  too  cunning  and  too 
well  versed  in  the  performance  of  a  co-operative  part 
with  Melvin,  in  other  words,  his  master,  to  say  that 
the  children  spoken  of,  were  the  daughters  and  sons 
of  Urnsden  and  his  wife. 

My  readers  will  remember  the  assumed  name  of  the 
ladies  of  the  hunting  party,  which  will  account  for 
their  appearing,  for  the  time  being,  as  the  supposed 
daughters  of  Urnsden,  and  his  wife  "  Abitha."  Here 
also,  the  sscretaries  formerly  mentioned  are  their  sup- 
posed sons,  and  the  residence  of  all  at  the  Fotheringay 
mansion,  served  to  impose  the  opinion  upon  the  minds 
of  Laurence  and  Hyne,  that  the  family  there,  was  one 
of  consanguinity,  and  not,  as  will  hereafter  be  shown, 
composed  of  different  relationships  united  there  as 
elsewhere,  only  to  eff  ct  pu  -poses  in  the  execution  of 


THE   IIEIRE3SES   OF   FOTHEEINGAY.  193 

a  plan  resulting  in  the  happiness  and  comfort  of  our 
young  travellers  from  the  city  of  New  York,  and  the 
deaf  and  dumb  nymphs  of  the  western  mountains  of 
Virginia. 

The  wind  blew  keen,  accompanied  by  shrill  sounds, 
as  it  passed  through  the  lofty  pines,  while  they  stood 
with  their  feet  covered  with  snow  upon  the  top  of  the 
mountain,  viewing  the  house  and  its  environs,  of  their 
now  sought  for  new  acquaintances ;  and  after  some 
talked  of,  and  agreed  upon  movements  of  themselves, 
our  young  gentlemen  began  a  meandering  descent 
to  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  from  whence  a  level 
expanse  leading  to  the  mansion  presented  itself  to 
their  view. 

They  had  not  proceeded  far  upon  a  narrow  path- 
way, as,  in  their  progress  it  led  through  a  forest  of 
cedar  and  pine  growth  before,  at  some  distance  from 
them,  they  discovered  the  view  of  their  pathway 
obscured  by  the  appearance  of  a  man  stepping  into  it, 
from  which  position  he  seemed  to  look  upon  them 
with  an  intent  of  inquisitiveness  on  their  near  approach, 
that  bordered  upon  fixed  suspicion  and  distrust. 
Dressed  in  the  attire  of  a  frontiersman,  decorated  by 
a  spotted  fawn  skin  shot-pouch,  powder  horn  and 
butcher  knife,  suspended  from  a  broad  strap  of  black 
leather  crossing  the  right  shoulder,  with  an  elegantly 
mounted  rifle  resting  upon  it ;  the  man  maintained  his 
position,  till  our  travellers  came  within  speaking 
distance  of  him.  Upon  their  advance,  and  in  an 
under-tone  Laurence  said:  "this  man  in  his  dress 
resembles  others  we  have  seen,  and  in  his  costume 
reminds  me  of  that  worn  by  the  huntsmen,  and  it  may 
be,  Sam  that  he  is  one  of  that  number  that  appeared 

18 


194  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

the  other  day  to  us,  in  the  double  capacity  of  gallants, 
as  well  as  a  kind  of  body-guard  to  nature's  loveliness, 
in  the  shape  and  attire  of  woman — that  doubtless 
dwell  upon  some  spot  among  these  wilds." 

Hyne  had  scarcely  endorsed  the  opinion  of  his 
friend  ere  both  occupied,  in  a  standing  posture,  a  spot 
but  a  few  steps  distant  from  the  man  spoken  of. 

"Hunting,  stranger?"  said  Laurence. 

"  Have  been  !"  replied  the  man,  as  indifferently  he 
cast  his  eyes  upon  them. 

"Have  you  killed  anything?"  resumed  Laurence. 

"  Yes,"  was  the  equally  indifferent  reply. 

"  What?"  returned  Laurence. 

"  One  of  the  family  of  my  growling  neighbor 
Bruin." 

"  Oh,  a  bear  you  mean." 

"Yes,  what  else  should  I  mean,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Where  is  it  ?  we  don't  see  it,"  was  the  return. 

"  I  know  you  don't,  for  it  is  too  far  off,"  replied  the 
man.  "  I  am  going  home  for  a  horse,"  he  continued, 
"to  bring  it,  and  if  you  like  to  do  so,  and  will  go 
to  my  house  with  me,  you  can  see  it  there  when  it 
comes." 

"You  are  kind,  and  we  accept  your  invitation," 
replied  Laurence. 

u  It  is  nothing  to  me,  whether  you  think  me  kind 
or  not,"  returned  the  stranger.  "There  are  few  to 
whom  I  ever  extend  kindness,  because  its  general  reward 
is  ba«e  ingratitude.  When  I  say  a  thing,  I  mean  it," 
continued  the  stranger ;  then  pointing  to  the  path  that 
lay  partly  snow  broken  before  them,  and  bringing  his 
gun  to  a  trailed  arm  position,  said  as  he  stepped  forward, 
"follow  me!" 


THE   HEIKESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAT.  195 

The  sudden  transition  from  an  impression  of  placidity 
and  benevolence  to  that  of  the  sternly  indifferent  and 
double-intended  last  reply  of  the  stranger,  excited  a 
degree  of  surprise  in  the  minds  of  the  two  friends, 
bordering  upon  a  decline  to  obey  his  injunction  of 
"follow  me!"  But  making  a  virtue  of  the  result  of 
accident,  they  were  soon  on  an  unknown  way  in  com- 
pany with  the  stranger,  whose  occasional  monosyllable 
answers  to  questions  put,  still  added  to  their  uncertainty 
of  whether  the  acceptation  of  his  offer  would  not,  or 
would  afford  any  facilities  to  their  efforts  at  dis- 
covery. They  had  not  gone  far  before,  instead  of  a 
dense  forest,  they  were  now  presented  with  an  exten- 
sive view  on  both  sides,  and  in  front,  of  tastely 
inclosed  grounds,  divided  into  fields  and  meadows, 
between  their,  then,  positions  and  the  mountains  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river. 

Proceeding  onwards,  in  a  short  time  afterwards  a 
gate  was  opened  at  the  commencement  of  a  beautifully 
serpentine  gravelled  causeway,  off  of  which  the  snow 
had  that  day  been  scraped.  That  walk  led  to  a  mag- 
nificent and  spacious  building,  which,  if  my  readers 
may  recollect,  was  the  one  spoken  of  in  other  parts 
of  this  work  as  the  Fotheringay  Mansion.  From  the 
eminence  it  occupied  was  afforded  a  splendid  view  of 
lofty  mountains  and  extensive  bottom  lands,  as  they 
lay  alongside  of  the  Eoanoke  river,  as  it  moved  some- 
times slow,  and  at  others  rapidly  on,  washing  the  foot 
of  each  bluff  that  had,  here  and  there,  and  intruder 
like,  extended  their  limits  to  the  water's  edge. 

Upon  arriving  at  the  house,  the  stranger  and  our 
two  friends  were,  for  a  few  moments,  engaged  getting 
the  frozen  flakes  of  snow  off  of  their  boots.  To  that 


196  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY. 

particularity  their  attentions  were  drawn  by  the 
stranger,  who,  upon  stopping  at  the  entrance  of  the 
piazza  leading  to  the  hall  door,  drew  from  their  scab- 
bards, placed  in  different  positions  upon  the  broad 
strap  of  his  shot-pouch,  three  knives,  presenting  two  of 
them  and  keeping  one  himself.  This  species  of  civility 
on  the  part  of  the  stranger  was  unaccompanied  by 
remark ;  but  ©n  noticing  the  use  to  which  his  own 
knife  was  put,  they  used  theirs  as  he  did.  When  the 
knives  wjere  returned  to  him,  he  placed  them  in  their 
respective  places  from  whence  they  came,  "and  raising 
the  knocker  of  the  door,  announced  his  desire  of 
entrance. 

In  the  next  moment  after  our  two  friends  were  ad- 
mitted into  the  hall,  and  from  thence  conducted  by  the 
stranger,  they  were  soon  in  the  interior  of  a  splendidly 
furnished  double-roomed  parlor.  They  had  been 
there  and  seated  by  a  comfortable  fire  but  a  few  mo- 
ments, before  the  re-entry  of  the  servant,  who  had 
answered  the  door  call  of  the  stranger.  He  held  be- 
tween, his  hands  a  salver  upon  which  was  borne  a 
pitcher,  composed  of  one  kind  of  the  precious  metals, 
three  goblets  of  like  material,  one  decanter  of  cogniao 
brandy  and  another  of  Jamaica  spirits. 

"  Come,"  said  the  stranger,  approaching  the  table 
upon  which  the  liquors  had  been  set,  and  addressing  our 
young  friends,  "  if  you  have  tastes  like  that  of  mine, 
you  can  take  a  drink  of  brandy,  or  rum  and  water, 
after  coming  out  of  the  cold.  Help  yourselves,"  con- 
tinued he. 

As  soon  as  they  had  prepared  their  drinks,  they  were 
followed  in  example  by  the  stranger,  who,  by  way  of 
a  toast  to  his  guests,  said,  "  Success  to  the  fortunate, 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  197 

and  may  Fate  never  deal  harshly  with  the  virtuously 
successful." 

After  they  had  drank  it,  no  time  was  allowed  for 
comment  on  the  part  of  our  friends,  and  while  the 
stranger  was  stepping  to  the  parlor  door,  he  continued, 
"  I  must  leave  you  and  go  for  my  bear."  Then  pass- 
ing out  of  the  room,  in  the  next  moment  the  hall  door 
announced  his  departure  by  the  noise  at  its  close,  and 
the  stranger  was  now  out  of  the  company  of  them, 
whom  he  had  now  left  in  rather  an  unenviable  as 
awkward  position. 

"•"We  have  been  cold,  but  in  it,  fortunate  to-day — 
are  now  warm  and  comfortable — have  had  some  per- 
plexity, and  are  yet  more  in  amaze  than  ever,  George," 
said  Hyne,  as  they  both  sat  by  the  fire  in  rather  a 
sombre  mood.  "  The  animal  by  whom  we  have  just 
been  left  in  this  apartment  is  a  perfect  medley,  pos- 
sessing qualities  deserving  of  a  better  chest  for  safe 
keeping,  as  well  as  a  heart  dictating  the  exercise  of 
them.  Who  he  is  ?  what  he  is  ?  and  by  what  right 
he  has  brought  us  to  and  left  us  in  this  parlor,  (the 
equal  of  which  we  have  not  seen  since  we  left  the 
city  of  New  York,)  involves  equally  as  much,  if  not 
more  mystery  than  any  previous  occurrence  with  us 
since  our  arrival  at  the  celebrated  '  Inn  of  old  Melvin,' 
That  singular  genius,"  continued  he,  "is  a  complex 
tissue  of  friendship,  intermixed  with  a  depth  of  dis- 
cernment and  well  calculated  cunning  that  has  baffled 
alike  our  attempts  to  read  as  to  comprehend  him.  At 
his  house,  however,  we  have  a  temporary  home, 
second  to  few,  if  any  of  its  class,  and  where  we  pay  our 
way.  But  in  this  house,  the  residence  from  appear- 
ance of  a  gentleman,  we  may  for  aught  we  know,  be 


198  THE   HEIRESSES    OF    FOTHERmGAY. 

already  looked  upon  as  insolent  intruders,  and  at  any 
moment  of  our  stay  here  become  more  and  more  liable 
to  be  kicked  out  of  doors." 

"  What  say  you  to  our  immediate  departure  for  the 
inn?" 

Hyne  had  just  finished  his  inquiry,  when,  from  one 
of  the  middle  doors  of  the  parlor  entered  a  lady.  She 
was  neat  in  her  person,  exhibiting  an  appearance  in 
age  of  some  forty-five  or  fifty  years,  and  combining  a 
good  natural  with  peculiar  traits  of  a  correctly  dis- 
criminative mind. 


CHAPTEK    XXVIII. 

What  gives  pleasure  in  the  pursuit  is,  the  hopes  entertained  in  thoughts 
upon  actual  possession. 

AT  the  appearance  before  our  young  friends  of  the 
lady  spoken  of  in  the  last  chapter,  a  degree  of  pleas- 
antry accompanied  her  expression,  while  friendship 
and  ingeniousness  seemed  to  govern  her  deportment 
toward  the  gentlemen  before  her. 

In  the  course  of  attempts  to  entertain  them,  the 
conversation,  by  her,  turned  upon  the  that  day's 
adventure  of  her  guests — of  their  accidental  meeting 
with' a  stranger — of  his  having  brought  them  to  (as 
they  supposed)-  his  house,  and  the  abruptness  with 
which  he  had  just  before  left  them. 

"  That  man,"  continued  she,  "  is  my  husband,  and 
a  like  attention  to  that  that  you  have  met  with  in  his 
modes  of  civility,  is  after  the  manner  in  which  he 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  199 

treats  all,  whether  friends  and  intimate  acquaintances, 
or  entire  strangers.  He  is  a  man,"  continued  the 
lady,  "who  does  not  meddle  with  the  business  of 
others,  and  but  seldom  extends  his  singular  and  rude 
methods  of  showing  friendship,  unless  entertaining  a 
certainty,  within  his  own  mind,  that  his  attempts  at 
it  would  result  in  a  benefit  for  those  concerned. 
With  you,  gentlemen,  I  feel  happy  in  the  belief  that 
what  my  husband  has  done  for  you  to-day,  is  at 
least  a  benefit  in  that  of  your  present  comfort,  and,  if 
I  mistake  not,  promise'  of  its  increase." 

At  that  moment  a  servant  coming  into  her  presence 
and  informing  the  lady  that  dinner  was  ready,  she 
arose  from  her  seat,  and  inviting  the  gentlemen  to 
partake-  of  it,  they  were  soon  seated  at  a  table  in  the 
dining-room,  where,  accompanied  by  the  lady  alone, 
they  dined  upon  a  plainness  of  fare,  partaking  of 
plenty,  without  pomp,  or  appearance  of  parade. 

As  they  were  returning  from  the  dining  apartment 
to  the  parlor,  the  bell  of  the  hall  door  rang,  which 
was  shortly  followed  by  the  entry  of  the  stranger^ 

In  his  usual  bluntness  of  manner,  he  said  :  "  I  am 
back,  and  if  you  gentlemen  want  to  see  Bruin  before 
his  coat  is  taken  off,  when  I  eat  my  dinner,  I  will 
come  in  the  parlor  for  you." 

"We  thank  you,"  returned  Hyne. 

"  You  need  not  do  so,"  replied  the  stranger,  as  hi 
passed  them :  and  in  the  n  jxt  moment  the  young 
friends  were  again  in  the  parlor,  and  the  stranger  in 
the  dining-room. 

As  soon  as  the  stranger  had  partaken  of  his  u  inner, 
he  returned  to  the  par.lor,  and  inviting  t'.c  yuu.ig 
gentlemen  to  accompany  him,  complied  with  his  j  ro- 


200  THE   HEIKESSES   OF   FOTHEKIXGAY. 

mise  to  show  them  what  he  had  killed ;  and  after  a 
couple  of  men,  under  his  direction,  had  taken  the 
necessary  care  of  the  proceeds  of  his  hunt,  he,  starting 
from  the  place  at  which  they  were  standing,  said : 
"  Well,  now  that  you  have  seen  what  I  promised  to 
show  you,  you  can  come  into  the  house  again."  Here, 
and  in  presence  of  the  lady,  he  said  :  "  I  am  not  med- 
dlesome with  the  business  of  any  one,  without  they 
ask  me  to  do  so,  and  not  then,  unless  I  know  that  I 
can  do  them  a  good.  But  though,  what  I  have  told 
ydu  is  a  maxim  with  me,  I  always  want  to  know  the 
names  of  all  whom  accident  places  me  in  company 
with ;  for  the  sole  reason,  that  if  I  see  them  again,  I 
may  know  them,  and  knowing  them,  be  the  better 
judge  whether  I  can  or  cannot  do  them  a  service, 
asked  for,  implied  or  understood,"  continued  the 
stranger. 

"  Your  kindness  to  us  consequent  upon  our  first 
meeting  with  you,  to-day,  was  then  as  it  is  now, 
worthy  of  your  request,  and  implied  possibility  of  your 
fixture  service  to  us,  sir,"  replied  Hyne.  Then  rising 
from  a  chair  he  had  just  resumed,  said :  "in  that  gen- 
tleman allow  me  to  make  you  acquainted  with  Mr. 
George  Laurence,  and  in  myself,  sir;  I  claim  the 
privilege  of  introducing  to  your  acquaintance  Samuel 
Hyne. 

Here  the  stranger  rose  from  his  seat,  and  taking  his 
wife  by  the  hand,  replied :  "  In  this  lady  and  myself,  I 
also  ask  the  privilege  as  well  as  great  pleasure  of  mak- 
ing you  acquainted  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Urnsden." 

Not  much  of  an  intervention  had  taken  place  after 
the  introduction  of  our,  now,  new  acquaintances  to 
one  another,  followed  by  a  social  conversation  upon 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY.  201 

general  subjects,  and  upon  which  each  seemed  to  lose 
sight  of  nothing  calculated  to  interest,  before  a  servant 
announced  the  arrival  of  Melvin  and  Standly  at  the 
door.  After  a  few  moments  spent  by  them  in  the  hall, 
divesting  themselves  of  their  great-coats  and  hats,  the 
two  latter  entered  the  parlor. 

"  You  will  excuse  the  privilege  taken,  Mr.  Urnsden," 
said  Mr.  Melvin,  advancing  with  Standly,  as  he  spoke, 
to  the  seats  occupied  by  Urnsden  and  his  wife,  "  of  my 
introducing  to  yourself  and  lady,  Mr.  Standly,  a  guest 
and  sojourner  at  the  '  Mountain  Inn.'  " 

"  As  with  you,  Mr.  Melvin,  so  shall  it  ever  be  with 
Mr.  Standly,  a  pleasure  to  me  and  my  wife,  Abitha,  to 
see  [addressing  Standly]  you,  sir,  at  my  house,"  replied 
Urnsden.  Then  turning  to  Laurence  and  Hyne,  he 
continued,  "  I  have  learned  from  these  young  gentle- 
men, that  they,  are  also  your  guests." 

"Yes,"  replied  Melvin,  "and  I  am  particularly 
pleased  at  seeing  them  here,  for  your  house  and  its 
comforts  will  serve  more  effectually  to  keep  them 
posted  up  in  remembrance  of  the  conveniences  and 
pleasure  of  their  native  home  at  New  York,  than  my 
humble  abode,  and  their  stay  at  the  Mountain  Inn, 
can." 

The  friendly  remarks  of  Melvin  and  Urnsden  rela- 
tive to  them,  induced  a  reply  from  the  young  men, 
whereupon  Hyne  said:  "Our  introduction  to,  and 
hospitable  reception  met  with  from  you,  Mr.  Urnsden, 
are  highly  prized  by  us,  and  those  of  Mr.  Melvin,  being 
weighed  in  a  like  balance,  we  will  remember  with 
fondness,  not  only  during,  but  long  subsequent  to 
our  arrival  at,  and  yet  to  be  continued  sojourn,  with 
the  proprietor  of  the  '  Mountain  Inn.'  " 


202  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY. 

"I  thank  you,  Mr.  Hyne,"  replied  Melvin,  "and 
here  let  me  add,  that  you  may  remember  it,  with  more 
intensity  of  thought  hereafter,  and  upon  your  return 
home  than  you  do  now." 

By  this  time  the  approach  of  sunset  had  put  a  stop 
at  their  first,  and  then  longer  continuance  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Urnsden  than  expected,  and  in  a  few  moments 
our  three  friends,  accompanied  by  Melvin,  were  on 
their  return  to  the  "  Mountain  Inn." 

After  tea,  and  in  their  own  room,  our  three  friends 
were  quite  in  that  kind  of  humor,  the  opposite  of  loqua- 
city. Each  seemed  busy  at  a  mental  review  of  p<  st, 
present,  and  future  events,  and  but  little  disposed  to  any 
casualties  that  might  have  a  tendency  to  interrupt  the 
respective  progress  of  their  thoughts.  While  in  that 
mood,  a  gentle  tap  was  heard  at  the  door,  and.  in  the 
next  moment  Melvin  was  in  their  presence. 

"You  are  kind  and  disposed  to  be  sociable,  Mr. 
Melvin,"  said  Standly,  "and  on  this  occasion  may  be- 
come more  desirably  so  to  us,  than  at  any  previous 
time,  since  we  have  been  with  you." 

"  How  so,  sir,"  replied  Melvin. 

"Because,"  returned  Standly,  "so  far  as  regards 
myself,  and  in  which,  I  believe,  I  shall  be  joined  by 
my  young  friends,  I  am  particularly  desirous  of  know- 
ing more  of  the  family  to  whom  we  have  been  intro- 
duced to-day." 

"  We  concur  with  you,  in  this  desire,  Mr.  Standly," 
was  the  simultaneous  reply  of  both  the  young  men. 

"  I  will  do  that  you  desire,  with  much  pleasure," 
resumed  Melvin ;  and  in  the  next  moment  our  travel- 
lers were  being  pleasantly  entertained  by  Melvin,  in 
his  account  given  of  Urnsden  and  his  family. 


THE    HEIRESSES    OF   FOTIIEKINGAY.  203 

When  Melvin  had  come  to  that  part  of  his  narra- 
tion upon  the  incidents  of  his  personal  acquaintance 
with  the  family  of  Urnsden,  he  was  observed  to  lose 
some  of  that  animated  expression,  with  which  the 
previous  part  of  his  recital  had  been  accompanied; 
and  with  a  tremor  of  voice  and  vacant  look,  he  ex- 
hibited signs  of  deep  felt  concern.  But  recovering 
himself,  and  after  a  few  moment's  pause,  he  said : — 
"  Gentlemen,  many  years  have  now  passed  since  the 
taking  place  of  those  occurrences,  and  the  incidents 
accompanying  them,  connected  with  that  family,  in 
my  knowledge,  having  sunk,  as  I  had  supposed,  into 
a  vortex  of  tim  \  causing  indifference,  I  had  thought 
myself  fully  competent  of  performing  my  task  of  de- 
velopment to  you,  without  the  semblance  of  a  return 
of  melancholy  in  it.  It  has,  however,  and  after  a  kind 
of  mental  torpidity  returned  upon  me  ;  and  you  will 
therefore  excuse  the  (as  you  may  justly  suppose)  weak- 
ness shown  by  me  upon  this  occasion ;  when  I  shall 
make  another  attempt  at  complying  with  your  re- 
quest. 

"  Urnsden,"  continued  Melvin,  "being  one  of  the 
number  associated  with  me  in  boyhood  sports,  was,, 
on  his  arrival  at  the  age  of  about  eighteen  years, 
severed  from  his  associates  and  school-fellows,  by  that 
sort  of  restless  enterprise,  too  often  producing  the 
truth  of  the  maxim  with  men  that, '  some  do  not  know 
when  to  let  well-enough  alone.'  After  an  irreparable 
wreck  of  his  father's  large  estateT  by  the  visionary 
plans  of  the  old  gentleman,  I  lost  sight  of  young 
Urnsden,  till  some  time  after  the  termination  of  our 
recent  National  struggles.  When  I,  in  my  turn  of 
adventures  came  to  the  spot,  part  of  which  you  now 


204  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

occupy,  you  can  more  easily  imagine  than  I  can  de- 
scribe, my  surprise  and  pleasure  at  finding  him  here. 
Eccentric,  blunt,  and  apparently  uncivil  in  his  cha- 
racter, I  have  lived  in  terms  of  close  intimacy,  and 
in  all  the  routine  of  a  neighbor  from  the  period  of 
which  I  last  spoke,  till  the  present  one. 

"In  addition  to  his  own  family,"  continued  Melvin, 
"  he  has  five  others  supposed  to  be  relatives  living  with 
him  at  present;  among  whom  are,  an  elderly  and  two 
young  ladies,  the  first-mentioned  of  whom  was  she 
who  presided  at  my  table  the  night  of  your  arrival  at 
the  '  Inn.'  From  the  incidents  giving  rise  to  hers,  and 
the  abode  of  the  two  young  ladies  there,  may  be  attri- 
buted the  feelings  manifested  by  me  a  few  minutes 
since." 

"Who,"  interrupting  Melvin,  said  Laurence,  "were 
the  persons  playing  that  night  on  the  piano  and 
guitar  ?" 

"The  young  men  of  Urnsden's  family  are  profi- 
cients upon  those  instruments ;  and  upon  which,  the 
wife  of,  for  the  time  being,  widowered  Melvin  once 
played.  Upon  this  subject,  however,"  continued 
Melvin,  "  I  pray  you,  spare  further  enquiry  as  con- 
nected with  it,  are  matters  foreign  to  any  promise  to 
you,  and  which  are  peculiarly  my  own." 

Here  a  straight-out,  uninterrupted  disclosure  was 
put  a  stop  to,  followed  by  interrogatories  put  by  the 
young  gentleman,  and  answers  returned  by  Melvin,  in 
such  particulars  as  to  place  Laurence  and  Hyne  in 
possession  of  everything  relative  to  the  residents  alone 
of  Urnsden's  family. 

It  had  now  advanced  to  a  late  hour,  and  after  Mel- 
vin had  expressed  his  wishes  for  pleasant  dreams  to 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTHERINGAY.  205 

attend  the  young  men,  and  a  refreshing  sleep  for 
Standly,  he  withdrew  from  their  presence. 

In  possession  of  that  they  most  desired — the  known 
residence  of  their  then  greatest  favorites,  the  deaf  and 
dumb  ladies — Laurence  and  Hyne  were  little  disposed 
to  the  acceptance  of  inducements  offered  to  them  by 
Morpheus,  and  were  on  that  occasion  visited  by  simi- 
lar preventives  to  sleep,  that  were  their  attendants 
on  their  first  night  at  the  "  Mountain  Inn."  Early 
the  next  morning  they  were  up,  and  having  consulted 
their  toilet,  had  determined  upon  another  adventure. 

That  caste  of  expression,  usually  the  accompaniment 
of  calm  reflection,  was  noticed  in  the  countenance  of 
Standly,  and  still  more  so  in  the  appearance  of  Mel- 
vin,  who,  after  the  breakfast  hour  had  passed,  was 
Been  in  the  bar-room,  engaged  in  close  conversation 
with  two  old  men,  dressed  in  similar  costume  to  that 
already  spoken  of.  Occasionally  their  eyes  were 
directed  to,  and  rested  upon,  our  three  friends,  as  in 
their  walk  on  the  porch  they  passed  and  repassed  in 
front  of  the  room. 

In  a  short  time  the  strangers  disappeared,  and  Mel- 
vin  joining  the  company  of  his  guests,  took  a  seat 
with  them  in  their  own  room,  by  a  table,  upon  which 
lay  their  drawing  and  painting  apparatus,  with  the 
sketches  already  mentioned,  and  to  which  they  had 
that  morning  applied  some  additional  touches,  pro- 
duced by  their  last  night's  reflection,  aided  by  dream- 
like representations  of  fancy. 

"  What  now,  gentlemen  1"  said  Melvin.  "  I  am 
again  in  possession  of  something  new  on  this  occasion, 
as  heretofore,  whenever  admitted  into  your  apartment." 


206  THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"To  what  have  you  reference,  Mr.  Melvin  ?"  said 
Standly. 

"  In  a  general  point  of  view,  to  social  and  interest- 
ing conversation ;  but  now,  to  the  scientific  sketches 
seen  upon  this  table,  reminding  me  strikingly  of  those 
with  whom  I  have  the  pleasure  of  a.  personal  and  inti- 
mate acquaintance,"  replied  Melvin. 

"You  are  complimentary  to  Mr.  Hyne  and  myself, 
Mr.  Melvin,"  replied  Laurence,  "and  let  me  add,  that 
the  chief  one  of  our  present  desires  is,  for  opportuni- 
ties to  complete  what  is  but  begun" 

The  double-intender  reply  of  Laurence  was  readily 
construed  in  the  way  meant,  and  Melvin,  seemingly 
ignorant  of  the  preferences  entertained  for  the  ladies 
in  question  by  the  young  gentlemen,  indifferently 
replied : 

"  You  may  perhaps  have  an  opportunity  of  com- 
pleting the  likenesses  begun,  of  their  faces ;  but  with 
any  further  acquaintance,  however  worthy  you  may 
both  be  of  it,  with  the  ladies  to  whom  you  allude,  is, 
I  think,  doubtful.  As,  in  the  first  place,  they  repre- 
sent the  misfortunes  incident  to  the  deaf  and  dumb ; 
are  supposed,  though  thus  unfortunate,  to  be  in  love ; 
and,  withal,  are  under  the  control  and  direction  of  an 
exceedingly  singular  and  knowing  old  genius,  whom, 
to  comprehend,  will  occupy  more  of  your  time  than 
I  imagine  both  or  either  of  you  are  willing  to  bestow." 

"  We  will  try  it,  if  aided,"  replied  Laurence. 

"  Then,"  replied  Melvin,  "  I  am  happy  in  being  the 
humble  instrument  of  its  commencement."  And 
taking  from  his  coat  pocket  three  sealed  and  directed 
notes,  which  he  had  received  from  one  of  the  men 
who  had  just  left,  presented  each  with  an  invitation  to 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  207 

dine  next  day  at  the  residence  of  Urnsden.  At  that- 
Melvin  withdrew,  and  as  he  closed  their  door  after 
him,  Standly  said  :  "A  new  sphere  is  now  offered  for 
each  of  you  young  gentlemen  to  sustain  ;  in  doing  so, 
take  care  that  you  are  not  made  the  dupes  of  fanoy, 
and,  upon  the  acquiring  or  diminishing  scale,  come  off 
worse  than  when  you  entered  the  further  plan  of  dis- 
covery." 


CHAPTER    XXIX 

Our  shares  of  the  capital  of  happiness  afforded   by  this  world,  are   fre- 
quently drawn  upon  by  large  drafts  of  ills. 

AT  eleven  o'clock  the  following  day,  our  three 
friends,  accompanied  by  Melvin,  left  the  inn  for  the 
residence  of  Urnsden.  Upon  their  arrival  they  were 
met  by  similar  expressions  of  friendship  to  that  shown 
them  on  the  day  of  their  first,  as  accidental,  visit 
there.  The  grave  salutations  and  replies  of  Urnsden 
to  remarks  and  questions  put,  had  been  dwelt  upon 
at  some  length  in  the  account  given  of  him  by  Melvin, 
so  that  those  of  his  traveller  guests  were  well  versed 
in  the  proper  way  to  take  him  in  his  remarks,  ques- 
tions or  replies-. 

With  the  exception  of  the  gentlemen  from  the  inn, 
the  dining  party  consisted  of  five  others;  two  of  whom 
were  the  persons  seen  the  morning  previous,  but  who, 
upon  the  present  occasion,  were  neatly  dressed,  in 
which  particular,  and  on  the  present  occasion,  all  had 
been  observant. 


208  THE   HEIKES3E3   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

The  hours  in  the  parlor  had  passed  sociably,  and  in 
an  ordinary  degree  of  politeness  on  the  parts  of  Lau- 
rence and  Hyne.  Still  the  incentive  to  a  further  dis- 
play of  their  knowledge  and  practice  of  etiquette,  had 
not  made  their  second  appearance  before  them. 

At  about  half  an  hour  before  dinner  a  messenger 
informed  Urnsden  that  the  ladies  intended  making 
their  appearance. 

"  Let  them  do  so,"  was  the  reply,  and  another  speci- 
men of  the  politeness  of  Urnsden.  The  servant  with- 
drew, and  in  a  short  time  re-opening  the  door,  Mrs. 
Urnsden  and  Mrs.  Dierdoffe  (for  the  time  being)  arm- 
in-arm,  followed  by  the  two  young  ladies,  in  a  like 
position,  were  in  the  presence  of  the  gentlemen. 
Here  Urnsden  rose  from  his  chair,  and  addressing 
Standly,  Laurence  and  Hyne,  said  :  "  You  know  my 
wife :  the  lady  she  has  by  the  hand  is  Mrs.  Dierdoffe ; 
here  (advancing  as  he  spoke)  are  her  daughters,  Miss 
Jane  and  Miss  Eliza."  Then  making  a  signal  by 
way  of  a  notice  of  his  intentions,  and  placing  himself 
arm-in-arm  between  them,  in  rather  a  mellowed  and 
expressive  tone  of  voice,  unusual  with  him,  continued, 
"  And  here,  gentlemen,  is  Miss  Susan  and  Miss  Ellen, 
nieces  of,  and  the  daughters  to  a  brother  of,  Mrs. 
Dierdoffe;  bearing. in  their  persons  two  of  the  mis- 
fortunes incident  to  life — that  of  the  deaf  and  dumb" 

At  the  last  expression  of  Urnsden,  the  young 
gentlemen  exhibited  marks  of  some  confusion,  which 
being  noticed,  the  ladies  made  signals  to  be,  and  in 
the  next  moment  they  were,  seated — Laurence  by  the 
side  of  Ellen,  and  Hyne  by  the  side  of  Susan  Dier- 
doffe. In  that  position,  and  on  the  part  of  the  ladies, 
was  presented  to  each  gentlemen  the  elegant  note- 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTHERINGAY.  209 

books  and  pencils  noticed  on  a  former  occasion,  and 
which,  on  the  present  one,  were  used  with  no  small 
degree  of  delight  by  those  who  my  readers  may 
readily  suppose  at  the  commencement  of  perspective 
happiness. 

Thus  engaged  in  a  social,  yet  pantomimic  style  of 
communicating  ideas,  their  time  passed  pleasantly, 
and  interrupted  by  nothing,  save  the  call  to  the 
dining-room,  to  which,  through  the  gallantry  of  our 
young  travellers,  the  apparently  deaf  and  dumb 
ladies  were  escorted. 

Here,  not  forgetting  that  series  of  etiquette,  the 
imperative  duty  of  gentlemen  when  in  the  company 
of  ladies,  our  two  friends  were  seen  to  be  polite  and 
attentive  to  all  present.  And  on  returning  to  the 
parlor,  a  like  routine  of  the  agreeable  was  being 
strictly  aimed  at  from  the  mutual  efforts  of  the  enter- 
tained as  from  the  entertainers. 

The  designs  of  Ellen  and  Susan  were,  to  intercept, 
as  often  and  as  much  as  possible,  the,  at  that  time, 
entire  attentions  to  them  of  their  new  acquaintances, 
and  for  that  purpose  had  made  such  remarks  as  in 
reply  to,  soon  brought  in  contact  with  the  young 
travellers  the  remaining  ladies  and  gentlemen  present. 

The  signals  from  the  deaf  and  dumb  with  which 
those  around  them  were  familiar,  and  the  perfect 
acquaintance  with  their  use,  in  the  minds  of  Ellen 
and  Susan,  gave  to  others  an  advantage  in  communi- 
cation much  superior  in  point  of  facility  to  those  of 
our  young  friends.  In  that  particular,  Standly,  being 
in  the  secrets  of  the  general  confederacy  (part  only  of 
whom  were  then  present)  was  promptly  aided  by 
young  Rightquick,  whenever  it  was  necessary  in  con- 

I! 


210  THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHERINGfAY. 

veying  his  immediate  remarks  to  the  ladies,  and 
their  answers  returned. 

Just  previous  to  the  arrangement  of  their  plan, 
Ellen  and  Susan  had  succeeded  in  bringing  Laurence 
and  Hyne  into  a  conversation  relative  to  the  pleasures 
and  advantages  of  society  in  a  city,  and  its  comforts, 
compared  with  those  of  a  like  nature  in  that  of  a  life 
in  the  country,  the  latter  of  which  our  ladies  in  ques- 
tion were  in  favor. 

In  rapid  succession,  the  looks  spoken  of  on  former 
occasions  were  seen  to  pass  between  our  travellers 
and  the  deaf  and  dumb  ladies,  the  results  of  which, 
in  the  preponderance  of  their  replication  and  the  pur- 
posely incidental  comments  from  those  present,  pro- 
claimed the  ladies  victors.  Desirous  of  being  still 
more  so,  and  with  a  view  the  better  to  arrive  at  some 
certainty  of  what  might  be  the  condition  of  impres- 
sions by  that  time  formed  of  them  in  the  minds  of 
our  young  friends,  it  was  courteously  ceded  to  the 
gentlemen  in  question,  that  the  chances  for  the  attain- 
ment of  beauty  and  wealth — the  predominant  impetus 
to  marriage — but  not  intellect,  presented  a  more  ex- 
tensive one  in  cities,  than  the  like  extent  of  territory 
or  numerical  order  did  for  the  country. 

Here  a  momentary  cessation  to  conversation  ensued, 
when  Urnsden,  passing  in  front  of  the  piano,  and 
near  which  Jane  and  Eliza  Dierdoffe  had  taken  seats, 
asked  of  the  former  where  the  violins  were  that  a  few 
days  before  had  occupied  a  pile  of  music  then  lying 
on  the  piano?  This  question  was  put  in  the  hearing 
of  our  three  friends;  and  Jane,  exhibiting  some  con- 
fusion, replied : 

"  Thinking  that  you  would  not  object  to  the  privi- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OP   FOTHERIXGAY.  211 

lege  taken,  uncle,  I  sent  them  and  your  flutes,  by 
Sanco,  to  Mr.  Melvin,  a  few  evenings  since." 

At  the  reply  of  Miss  Dierdoffe,  and  before  Melvin 
could  say  anything,  there  was  a  simultaneous  rising 
from  their  seats  of  the  two  friends,  and  each  present- 
ing himself  before  Jane,  expressed  his  thanks  and  the 
obligations  they  felt  themselves  under  to  her  for  the 
favor  she  had,  unknown  to  either,  bestowed  upon 
them,  and  the  pleasure  they  then  felt  at  being  made 
acquainted  with  the  source  from  whence  it  had 
emanated. 

"  Then,"  replied  Eliza,  who  had  at  that  time  joined 
in  the  conversation,  "since  we  are  thus  apprized  of 
your  being  amateurs,  we  would  be  most  happy,  gen- 
tlemen, in  uniting  our  efforts  with,  those  of  yours  in 
music,  on  any  evening  suiting  your  convenience  to 
join  us." 

"  O,  yes  1"  replied  Urnsden ;  "  all  my  family  are  not 
deaf  and  dumb,  and  those  of  it  who  can  hear  and  speak 
are  fond  of  music.  But  whether  or  no  they  of  it  who 
pretend  to  play  can  do  so  before  you,  with  that  taste 
with  which  you  have  heard  others  in  your  fashionable 
city,  remains  for  us  at  some  future  time  to  know." 

It  was  now  at  a  late  hour  of  the  evening,  and  our 
three .  friends,  with  Melvin,  returned  to  the  "inn," 
where,  in  pursuance  of  their  custom,  our  travellers, 
soon  after  supper,  retired  to  their  room,  and  there 
commenced  their  comments  upon  the  occurrences  of 
the  past  day,  as  had  been  their  usual  practice  on  each 
successive  and  passed  one,  since  their  stop  at  the  house 
of  their  familiar  host,  Melvin. 

Standly,  Mentor-like,  was  ensconced  by  all  that  forte 
of  mature  reflection,  that  riper  age  and  long  experience 


212  THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHEEINGAY. 

gives  over  the  vacillancy  reverse  of  youthful  life; 
while  Laurence  and  Hyne  in  that  volatile  and  delusive 
strain  of  expression  consequent  upon  unripe  and 
unexperienced  opinions,  thought  of  nothing,  and  talked 
of  nothing  but  the  opportunity  that  had  that  day  been 
offered  them  of  proffering  their  claims  to  the  hearts 
and  hands  of  the  heretofore  strangers  to  them,  but 
now  known,  and  beloved  nymphs  of  the  mountains. 

After  listening  to  much  of  expressive  eulogy,  the 
usual  attendant  upon  and  gatherer  of  the  scattered 
arrows  of  blind  love,  Standly,  in  his  usual  position  of 
having  an  elbow  upright  on  the  table,  with  his  head 
resting  upon  the  back  part  of  the  fingers  of  his  half- 
closed  hand,  said :  "  But  little  else  than  astonishment 
has  occupied  my  mind,  at  your  deportment  since  our 
arrival  here,  young  gentlemen.  And  it  seems  to  me 
that  the  return  of  each  successive  day  opens  to 
my  view  new  sources  of  surprise.  We  know  that 
which  has  passed,  and  amidst  which,  the  spending  of 
the  day  just  gone,  adds  to  your  calculations  a  new 
starting  point.  I  allude  to  your  attachments  for,  and 
your  determined  intents  to  address,  those  trebly  poor 
girls  to  whom  we  were  introduced  to-day.  I  say 
trebly  poor,  because  they  are  deaf,  because  they  are 
dumb,  and,  in  all  probability,  because  they  may  be 
the  dependents  upon  an  uncle,  who  has,  as  you  have 
seen,  two  daughters  with  whom  to  share  his,  perhaps, 
but  limited  estate." 

The  lecture  of  Standly  was  answered  by  the  young 
men  with  every  earnest  of  intent,  accompanied  by  a  due 
deference  of  the  giver  of  it,  and  respect  to  his  offered 
opinions,  ending  with  their  assurance  to  Standly  that 
they  both  felt  what  they  had  said,  and  that  what  they 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY.  213 

had  said  and  still  felt  was  so  interwoven  with  what 
they  thought  the  only  sure  basis  of  their  earthly  hap- 
piness, that  the  first  opportunity  offered  should  be 
seized  upon,  to  make  their  proposals,  to  the,  although 
deaf  and  dumb,  as  they  believed,  highly  gifted  ladies : 
and  whose  misfortunes  would  not  preveut  them  from 
making  each  a  wife,  each  a  companion,  and  each  an 
ornament  to  their  youth,  as  well  as  a  comfort  in  the 
decline  of  their  lives. 

That  kind  of  discussion  with  the  sentiments  enter- 
tained and  expressed  relative  to  the  ladies  in  question, 
was  what  Standly  most  wished  for,  as  the  representa- 
tive of  the  parents  of  his  young  charge ;  and  the  fol- 
lowing morning  the  account  of  his  conversation  with 
them,  and  their  determined  course,  was,  at  his  earliest 
convenience,  related  to  Melvin,  with  whom  Standly 
passed  the  greater  part  of  his  time. 

Towards  evening  of  that  day,  and  at  the  close  of 
several  hours  spent  upon  their  landscape  views  and 
favorite  sketches,  before  spoken  of,  our  young-  men 
were  heard  practising  upon  the  violins  and  flutes,  with 
which,  by  the  kindness  of  Miss  Dierdoffe,  they  had 
been  favored.  At  this  time,  Standly,  accompanied  by 
Melvin,  entered  their  apartment,  and,  after  taking 
their  seats,  the  visit  to  Urnsden,  and  incidents  there, 
were  adverted  to. 

"  I  cannot  but  suppose  you,  Mr.  Melvin,"  said 
Hyne,  "  from  the  information  already  given  us,  fa- 
miliar with  every  particular  connected  with  that 
family,  and  on  the  present  occasion  do  hope,  you  will 
not  think  me  impertinently  inquisitive,  nor  impute  to 
my  motives,  any  improper  designs,  in  calling  your  at- 
tention to  some  events  that  took  place  there  yesterday, 


214:  THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY. 

with  a  few  matters  occurring  elsewhere,  to  my  know- 
ledge, since  my  arrival  here.  And  now,  sir,"  con- 
tinned  Hyne,  "  if  you  will  answer  them,  I  will  put 
my  questions,  and  will  be  much  pleased  to  have  your 
replies." 

At  the  unexpected  remarks  of  Hyne,  and  the  re- 
quest made  of  him,  Melvin  was  silent  for  some  mo- 
ments, and  within  that  time  like  requests  were  made 
of  him  by  the  other  two  gentlemen. 

"  It  is  not  my  place,"  said  Melvin,  "  at  least  for  the 
present,  to  ask  of  you,  gentlemen,  why  such  remarks 
as  have  led  to  them,  nor  the  reasons  governing  you  in 
in  your  proposed  inquiries  of  me  were  made  ?  And 
all  I  can  say  is, — that  I  may  not  tell  you  all,  but  as 
much  as  may,  perhaps,  answer  your  purposes,  what- 
ever they  may  be.  With  a  further  proposition  on  my 
part,  that,  if  ever  the  time  comes,  in  which  similar 
requests  shall  be  made  of  you,  that  you  will  now 
promise  to  perform,  and  to  keep  inviolable,  similar 
trusts  reposed  in  you  by  me,  upon  things  you  may  be 
informed  of,  divulging  them  to  none,  except  you  first 
shall  have  obtained  my  permission  to  do  so." 

Melvin's  reply  and  his  injunctions,  and  in  which  his 
whole  deportment  appeared  concerned  while  making, 
baffled  for  a  time  the  objects  had  in  view  by  the  tra- 
vellers. For  they  had  already  come  to  the  conclusion, 
from  his  frankness  to  them,  on  former  occasions,  that 
what  he  had  then  said,  as  well  as  that  Melvin  might 
now  speak  of — could  be  by  them,  if  occasion  required, 
repeated ;  as  well  as  giving  their  author  for  it ;  the 
name  of  the  keeper  of  the  Mountain  Inn. 

When  Melvin  had  finished  speaking,  our  three 
friends  gave  each  other  a  look  as  much  as  to  say,  in 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERUSTGAY.  215 

the  several  expressions  of  their  countenances,  "  "Will 
you  agree  to  his  proposition?" 

Here,  Standly  assuming  the  province  of  speaker  in 
reply,  said ;  "  We  doubt  not  your  sincerity  in  friend- 
ship to  us,  Mr.  Melvin,  nor  the  sound  reasons  you  have 
for  placing  us  under  injunctions  of  secresy,  upon 
matters  that  you  just  expressed  a  willingness  to  impart 
to  us.  In  assuming  the  privilege  of  requesting  infor- 
mation of  you — you  may  have  already  entertained  the 
opinion  that  we  were  stepping  beyond  the  limits  allowed 
strangers,  and  the  only  recompense  we  can  make  for 
having  done  so,  is  to  assure  you  that  the  most  pro- 
found secresy  will  be  observed  and  practised  by  us 
upon  all  matters  in  which  it  may  please  you  to  instruct 
us  relative  to  and  connected  with  the  family  of  Mr. 
Urnsden.  And  if  what  I  have  just  assured  you  of," 
continued  Standly,  "is  a  sufficient  voucher,  whereby 
to  give  a  credit  to  that  effect,  we  should  be  glad  of 
your  consent  to  oblige  us." 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  to  my  readers,  that  Standly 
was  playing  a  double  part — that  he  was  associated  in 
the  confederacy  with  Melvin — that  they  had  been  seen 
in  frequent  and  long  conversations,  and  in  the  imme- 
diate presence  of  the  young  men — that  both  Standly 
and  Melvin  spoke  and  acted  in  such  a  way  as  induced 
at  different  times  thoughts  of  suspicion. 

Like  all  others  under  the  influence  of  Love  in 
broken  doses,  or  in  other  words — hesitation,  doubting, 
suspense,  hoping,  and  desponding  thoughts — they  were 
desirous  of  having  some  one  in  whom  to  confide  and 
with  whom  to  speak  freely ;  and  situated  as  they  were, 
it  was  natural  for  them  to  look  in  that  light  upon 


216  THE  HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

Standly.  If  the  latter  should  prove  an  Iscariot,  it 
remains  for  the  future  of  this  tale  to  discover. 

At  the  close  of  Standly's  remarks,  Melvin  replied, 
"That  he  had  not,  upon  the  conditions  agreed  to  by 
the  young  gentlemen  and  Standly,  the  least  objection 
to  give  it,  if  a  further  information  of  Urnsden  and  his 
family  could  afford  any  additional  satisfaction  to 
them."  Adding,  that  as  it  had  then  advanced  to  a 
late  hour  of  the  night,  and  having  some  business  to 
attend  to,  he  would  return  to  their  room  at  an  early 
hour  the  next  day. 

Thus  saying,  Melvin  bade  them  "  good  night,"  leav- 
ing our  three  friends  to  reflections  upon  what  had 
passed,  with  suppositions  upon  the  future. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

We  often  miss  the  attainment  of  onr  desires  from  the  oversight  in  the 
means  made  use  of  to  possets  the  objects  of  them. 

DURING  the  interval  between  the  adieu  of  Melvin 
and  the  time  at  which  they  returned,  several  questions 
had  been  put  to  Standly,  by  Laurence  and  Hyne. 
And  among  the  most  material  ones  were,  "If  he, 
(Standly)  had  at  any  time  since  their  arrival  at  the 
inn,  cause  to  suppose,  or  had  come  to  the  conclusion, 
that  Melvin  was  deceitful  in  his  deportment  towards 
them." 

Upon  the  reply  of  Standly  in  the  negative,  it  put  a 
stop  to  further  interrogatories  for  the  time,  and-  in  a 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  217 

few  moments  after  our  three  friends  were  in  the  keep- 
ing of  Morpheus. 

My  readers  may  recollect  distinctly,  that  .there  was 
not  only  a  perfect  silence  observed  relative  to  the 
designs  of  perpetuity  between  the  parents  of  our  la- 
dies and  gentlemen,  but  also  that  there  was  nothing 
upon  which  to  predicate  the  supposition  that  they 
were  even  known  to  one  another.  Consequently,  the 
acts  of  the  whole  confederacy,  with  Melvin  at  their 
head,  were  so  entirely  unknown  to  our  young  stran- 
gers, as  in  every  move  relative  to  his  object  to  give 
Melvin  an  ascendancy  in  the  perfection  of  his  scheme. 
Those  advantages,  connected  with  the  apparent  candor 
aud  seeming  plausibility  of  Standly,  gave  Melvin  no- 
thing to  fear ;  and  on  the  following  morning,  after  an 
early  breakfast,  he  made  his  appearance  before  our 
three  friends.  Melvin  seemed  quite  collected,  and  his 
whole  demeanor  portrayed  forethought  and  that  kind 
of  affability  calculated  to  arrest  any  thing  like  that  of 
suspicion. 

MELVIN'S  ACCOUNT  OF  URNSDEN  AND  HIS  FAMILY. 

In  an  allusion  given  to  his  promise,  Melvin  said: 
"  I  have  already  told  you,  gentlemen,  of  the  boy- 
day  acquaintance  existing  between  Urnsden  and  my- 
self— of  our  long  separation  and  renewal  of  that 
acquaintance  after  a  termination  of  many  years.  And 
that  which  I  shall  now  speak  of  relative  to  him,  will 
create  a  medley  of  thought  with  you,  partaking  of 
emotions  thought  little  of,  of  him  by  those  to  whom  I 
am  speaking. 

"  Impetuous  and  reckless  in  his  disposition,  and  not 


218  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

having  moral  courage  sufficient  to  stand  firm  and  re- 
solute amid  the  ills  that  had  attended  his  family, 
Urnsden  was  seen  to  give  way  under  them,  till,  at 
length,  he  disappeared,  and  no  one  knowing  where  he 
went,  or  what  object  he  had  in  view  when  he  went,  I, 
with  others,  feeling  more  for  him  than  he  did  for 
himself,  soon  got  into  the  prevailing  opinion  that  he 
had  made  a  mockery  of  the  gifts  of  Heaven  by  put- 
ting an  end  to  that,  not  his  by  any  alienable  right, 
but  as  a  boon  from  the  Most  High. 

"Not  dead,  as  was  supposed,  but  long  lost  to  that 
circle. of  society  in  which  he  had  been  accustomed  to 
move,  I  found  him  here  as  you  have  been  told. 

"  An  adventurer  amid,  not  many  years  before, 
these  by  savage  occupied  wilds,  and  seated  one  night 
with  a  few  others  of  my  brave  companions  before  a 
log  fire  at  the  entrance  of  our  tent,  a  small  party  was 
seen  in  their  advance  to  where  we  were.  On  their 
nearer  approach  I  discovered  the  party  to  consist  of 
two  women,  two  men,  four  little  girls  and  two  boys. 
The  men  and  boys  were  costumed  after  the  manner  in 
which  you  first  saw  Urnsden  a  few  days  since,  and 
the  huntsmen  seen  the  morning  after  your  arrival 
here.  The  women  and  girls  were  clad  after  the  cos- 
tume of  the  present  time.  And  here,  let  me  add,  that 
I  shall  never  forget  the  feelings  with  which  the 
younger  two  of  the  fair  girls  inspired  me.  When 
they  had  gotten  to  our  tent,  a  particular  degree  of 
courteousness,  ever  the  attendent  of  the  virtuous  fair 
of  creation,  was  developed  by  the  women,  and  the 
force  of  precept  and  example  was  also  discovered  in 
the  little  prattlers  of  both  sexes,  as  they  stood  by  the 
sides  of  those  supposed  to  be  their  mothers. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERISTGAY.  219 

"  One  of  my  party  was  engaged  fixing  log  seats 
for  those  of  whom  I  have  just  spoken,  while  I  was 
engaged  talking  to  the  men  yet  standing,  but  who  a 
few  moments  after  were  also  seated  by  the  fire. 

"  Age  with  the  consequences  of  time  and  circum- 
stances had  so  changed  his  general  deportment,  as  at 
first  sight  to  make  it  doubtful  of  whether  one  of  the 
strangers  before  me  was,  or  was  not  Urnsden :  till,  at 
length  pressed  by  similar  impressions  and  feelings  to 
those  of  my  own,  one  of  them  addressing  me,  said : 

"  'Stranger,  from  whence  come  you?' 

"  '  From  near  Charleston,  South  Carolina,'  I  replied. 

'  "  If  so,  and  I  mistake  not,'  said  he, '  Will  Urnsden 
and  Jack  Melvin  have  again  met,  and  that  after  a  sepa- 
ration of  more  than  thirty  years.' 

"  I  could  scarcely  credit  the  assertion ;  but  when  he 
had  rolled  up  the  left  sleeve  of  his  deer-skin  coat,  and 
showed  me  a  scar  received  in  my  defence,  I  was  no 
longer  a  'Thomas' — and  in  the  next  moment  our 
right  hands  were  firmly  clinched  in  each  others. 

"  That  greeting  over,  Urnsden  introduced  me  to  the 
women  and  men  present,  and  I  in  return  made  him 
and  them  acquainted  with  my  party.  By  this  time 
the  night  had  run  over  Time's  list  to  one  of  its  late 
hours,  and  the  women  and  children  expressing  a  desire 
to  rest,  Urnsden  and  the  man  with  him  accompanied 
by  their  charge,  left  our  camp  with  the  promise  of 
himself  to  return  to  us  the  next  morning. 

"  Accordingly  he  did  so,  and  while  there,  informed 
me  in  a  long  and  particular  statement  of  all  his 
troubles,  of  his  few  pleasures,  and  of  the  many  diffi- 
culties he  had  encountered. 

"  Urnsden  told  me,  that,  in  less  than  a  month  after 


220          TI;E  HEIRESSES  OF  FOTTIERINGAY. 

his  departure  from  the  city  of  Charleston  he  had  be- 
come a  land-pirate,  and  associated  with  a  regular  train 
of  them  that  infested  the  secret  passes  in  the  States  of 
the  two  Carolina's — those  of  Georgia,  and  at  that  time, 
extensive  State  of  Virginia.  The  scenes  of  horror 
and  despair  that  he  was  not  only  frequently  compelled 
to  behold,  but  to  engage  in,  in  order  to  gain  from 
others  of  the  company  his  portion  of  the  profits  of  ex- 
cursions for  plunder,  were  many.  Till  at  length  being 
awakened  to  a  sense  of  the  degradation  and  horrid 
modes  by  which  to  gain,  at  the  best,  a  miserable  sup- 
port, he  determined  to  retire  from  the  company,  with 
some  ten  thousand  dollars  of  booty,  that  more  than 
twenty  years  service  had  made  his,  not  by  fair,  but 
by  the  basest  and  most  foul  means. 

"  Possessed  of  gold  and  valuables  of  a  precious 
nature,  Urnsden's  next  object  was,  how  best  to  regain 
society  and  maintain  in  it  his  former  position.  But 
here,  as  he  has  since  frequently  told  me,  conscience 
ever  uses  him  severely,  and  instead  of  a  return  to  the 
routine  of  gayer  circles  of  life,  he  has  contented  him- 
self to  settle  where  he  now  is;  where,  in  the  society  of 
the  family  that  now  surrounds  him,  he  has  the  appear- 
ance of  being  more  happy  than  he  really  is. 

-"From  the  force  of  habit  in  the  associations  of  time 
passing  between  youth  and  advanced  life,  he  appears 
at  intervals  rough  and  extremely  rude  in  his  manners. 
But  there  is  a  virtue  that  lies  hidden  under  the  mass 
of  ruins  to  which  his  more  polished  manners  and  de- 
portment have  become  victims." 

"I  have  now,  gentlemen,"  continued  Melvin, 
"  brought  Urnsden  step  by  step  before  you,  and  in 
your  minds  keeping,  till  within  his  own  house  it  may 


THE   IIEI!. ESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  221 

be  present  with,  your  memories,  of  how  he  and  his 
family  met  with  and  received  you  at  the  dinner  given 
you  two  days  since ;  and,  whether  you  think  him  be- 
neath your  further  notice  or  not,  consequent  upon  the 
account  thus  far  given  you  of  him,  remains  for  t\vo 
important  incidents  to  disclose,  and  they  are : — 

"  First.  That  he  is  the  supposed  uncle  of  the  deaf 
and  dumb !  and,  secondly,  being  so,  whether  or  not, 
they  can  any  longer  command  your  respect  and  admi- 
ration ? 

"  Of  the  now  elderly  ladies,  if  you  please,  of  Urns- 
den's  household,"  continued  Melvin,  "I  shall  say  but 
little  more  for  the  present;  for  it  is  an  undeniable 
truth,  that  however  base,  of  low  origin,  illiterate  and 
unnoticed  human  nature  may  be,  in  such  spheres  as  I 
have  represented  Urnsden,  that  the  moment  some 
lucky  chance  gives  to  them  wealth,  every  feature  I 
have  mentioned  is  cast  into  an  eternity  of  oblivion, 
and  the  idolized  virtues  of  such,  consequent  upon 
wealth  alone,  are  seen  placed  in  the  front  ranks  of 
fashion,  and  there  asked  after  by  all.  Such  are  the, 
at  present,  high-toned  sentiments  of  the  few  settlers 
of  this  region  of  country,  relative  to  Urnsden  and  his 
family ;  which  will,  in  a  few  years  from  now,  grow 
into  such  strength  and  virtue,  consequent  .upon  the 
influence  of  their  wealth,  as  to  secure  for  it  the  high- 
est tributes  of  esteem  from  abroad,  as  well  as  among 
those  by  whom  they  are  now  surrounded.  And,"  con- 
tinued Melvin,  "  however  much  or  little  you  may, 
from  your  own  observations  in  the  future,  see  to 
approve  or  disapprove  of,  in  the  elderly  ladies  of 
Urnsden's  family,  remains  likewise  for  an  unknown 
future  to  determine. 


222  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"The  two  young  girls,  then  children,  and  to  whom 
you  were  introduced  a  few  days  since,  in  Urnsden's 
house,  as  grown  young  ladies,  I  have  before  said,  did 
at  the  time  I  first  saw  them,  as  they  have  continued  to 
do  since,  inspire  me  with  feelings  of  deep  concern, 
and  I  think  you  will  concur  with  me  in  a  similitude 
of  sentiment,  emanating  from  a  representation  of  the 
deaf  and  dumb  before  you  on  that  occasion.  It  is  not 
my  design,  nor  indeed  do  I  believe  it  my  province,  to 
tell  you  now  whose  daughters  those  of  whom  I  am 
speaking  are ;  and  when,"  continued  Melvin,  "  that 
disclosure  shall  have  been  made — if  ever — by  me,  it 
will  be  attended  by  impressions  upon  your  minds 
highly  commendatory,  or  to  sink  them  far  beneath 
your  most  ordinary  respect.  So  far,  however,  as  care 
in  their  raising  and  education  is  concerned,  you  are 
doubtless  gentlemen  of  too  good  discernment  not  to 
have  discovered,  in  your  late  interview  with  them, 
that  in  that  particular  no  pains  have  been  spared. 

"  The  appearance  of  personal  defects  are  most  fre- 
quently by  order  of  the  most  High,  and  upon  those  in 
whom  they  appear  are  but  too  often  hurled  the  sneers 
of  shallow-brained  intellects.  The  most  learned  are 
sensitive  in  such  cases,  but,  like  the  magnetic  needle 
in  its  vibrations,  are  so  only  momentarily.  This  I  have 
thought  proper  to  mention,  not  because  you  are  sup- 
posed to  belong  to  that  class  of  beings  who  think  it  a 
mark  of  good  sense 'to  make  contemptible  remarks 
upon  the  works  of  the  great '  I  Am,'  but  to  place  you 
upon  your  guard  in  your  future  interviews  with  the 
deaf  and  dumb  in  the  family  of  Urnsden. 

"  Of  the  other  two  girls — now  also  grown,  and 
looked  upon  as  ladies  in  the  house  of  that  eccentric 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY.  253 

genius,  Urnsden — I  shall  say  only,  that  they  also  have 
been  well  raised,  and  equally  well  educated  as  those 
just  spoken  of;  but  of  them,  as  of  the  former,  the  veil 
of  mystery  now  covering  them  must  not  yet  be  drawn 
aside,  which,  when  done,  as  I  have  before  said,  will 
secure  for  the  four  concerned,  your  much  rivalled 
esteem  or  utter  contempt. 

"  I  have  now,"  continued  Melvin,  "  only  two  other 
children  to  speak  of,  that  attracted  my  attention  at  the 
camp-fire,  already  spoken  of,  and  they  are  the,  then, 
boys,  now  young  men,  seen  at  the  dinner  given  you 
by  Urnsden.  They,  too,  have  been  properly  raised, 
and  being  conversant  with  business,  and  the  care  and 
attention  necessary  thereto,  are  beginning  to  be  spoken 
of,  by  those  who  know  them,  as  rapidly  forming  for 
themselves  foundations  of  future  usefulness  and  envied 
rank  in  their  advance  among  the  incidents  belonging 
to  life. 

"  Urnsden,"  continued  Melvin,  "  is  said  to  be  very 
partial  to  those  young  men,  and  however  wrapped  in 
mystery,  as  the  family  now  seems  to  be,  with  those 
knowing  little  or  nothing  about  it,  the  prevailing 
opinion  is,  that  the  deaf  and  dumb  ladies  are  to  be  the 
wives  of  those  two  young  men.  And  furthermore, 
that  he  will  dispose  of  the  remaining  two  of  his  charge 
in  such  a  way  as  to  reflect  credit  upon  himself  and 
happiness  and  prosperity  upon  them. 

"  Here,  gentlemen,  suffer  me  to  speak  of  another 
trait  in  the  character  of  Urnsden,  omitted  in  my  re- 
marks of  him  personally ;  and  that  is,  that  thougli 
reckless  and  indolent,  and  somewhat  inclined  to  in- 
temperate habits  in  his  early  life,  he  has  often  declared 
that  he  will  never  give  his  daughters  (as  he  calls 


224  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

them)  to  any  who  are  not  personally  known  to  him, 
or  credibly  reported  to  him  so  to  be,  possessed  of  a 
knowledge  of  business,  of  habits  of  industry  and 
carefulness,  a  love  and  practice  of  them,  and  an  aver- 
sion to  habitual  intemperance.  With  these  qualifica- 
tions, united  to  an  honorable  integrity,  Urnsden  has 
repeatedly  said  that  he  will  cheerfully  give  his  daugh- 
ters, though  such  husbands  may  not  have  at  the  time 
they  may  become  so,  one  cent  with  which  to  com- 
mence the  marriage  estate. 

"  I  have  now,  gentlemen,"  continued  Melvin, 
"  completed  my  promise ;  and  if  what  I  have  said 
has  contributed  to  strengthen  your  whatever  pur- 
poses further  intended  here,  my  wishes  are  certainly 
with  you  for  success." 

Eising  from  his  seat  as  the  last  remark  was  being 
made,  Melvin  withdrew,  and  in  the  next  half  hour 
our  three  friends  were  seated  at  the  dining-table. 

There  are  times,  in  the  mental  condition  of  men, 
when  that  which  is  necessary  for  the  support  of  life 
(a  good  appetite)  is  frequently  denied  us.  At  their 
dinner-table,  much  indifference  was  manifested  on  the 
part  of  our  young  friends,  while  the  eldest  of  the 
three  did  not  require  a  command  like  to  that  given 
to  one  of  old,  but,  on  the  contrary,  used  his  knife  and 
fork  with  a  gracefulness  and  ease  exhibiting  good 
manners,  whilst  he  partook  of  the  respective  varieties 
of  their  table  with  as  much  dignified  composure  and 
satisfaction  as  a  distinguished  partizan  of  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution  did,  while  feasting  with  the  British 
officer  upon  " sweet  potatoes" 

The  sagacity  of  the  elder  of  our  three  friends,  was 
then,  as  it  had  been  constantly,  upon  the  alert,  and  lis- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERIXGAY.  225 

teniiig  to  more  than  he  chose  replying  to,  of  the  allu- 
sions made  by  the  young  men  to  Melvin's  partial  dis- 
closure; in  that  state  of  mind  within  himself  and  the 
young  gentlemen's  comments,  they  entered  their 
apartment ;  where,  by  your  permission,  reader,  I  shall 
leave  them  for  the  present,  to  go  elsewhere,  with  a 
view  to  your  amusement  and  pleasure. 

I 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

The  appearance  of  ills  in  tbe  affairs  of  life,  are  sometimes  productive  of 
happy  consequences. 

THE  impulse  to  the  passion  of  love  is  assignable  to 
many  causes ;  upon  the  different  proprieties  of  which 
the  hearts  only  of  those  who  are  votaries  of  and 
solicited  for  at  its  shrine,  are  capable  of  deciding. 
Sometimes  a  single  glance  of  that  invariably  ex- 
pressive talisman  of  the  soul,  the  eye;  at  others,  a 
single  expression  of  the  countenance;  a  sentence 
peculiarly  expressed ;  at  others,  the  attitude,  form, 
and  external  appearance  of  make  and  shape;  and, 
again,  that  which  is  most  lasting,  and  by  which  all 
the  vicissitudes  of  life  can  be  thwarted  as  well  as 
borne  with,  according  to  cases — the  strength  and 
qualities  of  a  well-cultivated  mind ;  had,  in  their  re- 
spective natures,  an  attempted  at  influence  been 
offered  to  the  consideration  of  the  ladies  of  Urnsden's 
house.  Nor  was  that  all :  for  wealth,  with  its  weight 
of  influence,  had  been  tendered  to  them,  with  the 

hearts  and  hands  of  many,  as  yet  to  no  desired  effect. 
15 


226  THE   HKIEESSE3   OF   FOTHEBINGAT. 

Hence  our  ladies  were  still  free  to  think  and  act  upon 
further  solicitations,  as  they  thought  most  conducive 
to  their  future  of  this  world's  happiness. 

It  had  been  the  constant  practice  of  Standly  to 
visit  the  mansion  whenever  he  could  do  so  unnoticed 
by  our  young  gentlemen,  and  particularly  when  they 
were,  engaged  at  reading,  or  in  their  amusement  of 
music,  and  now  favorite  employment  at  the  sketches 
and  drawings  spoken  of  in  former  chapters. 

In  one  of  his  visits,  and  in  answer  to  some  inquiries 
made  of  him,  among  other  matters  relative  to  Lau- 
rence and  Hyne,  Standly  spoke  of  their  boasted 
indifference  to  the  society  of  ladies,  and  the  want  of 
female  influence  over  them,  so  far  as  any  particular 
affection  was  concerned.  Adding  that  it  had  been  a 
favorite  expression  with  those  gentlemen  (and  of 
which  my  readers  have  been  already  apprized)  that, 
"  She  must  be  a  Venus  of  whom  I  would  ask  the 
question,  '  Will  you  marry  me?'  " 

That  information  was  enough  for  the  present  use 
of  our  ladies,  and  upon  the  receipt  of  it,  they,  from 
that  moment,  intended  adopting  such  a  course  as 
would  afford  a  slight  chastisement  for  the  lofty 
opinions  of  the  gentlemen,  and  to  test  the  maxim  of 
Mr.  Laurence  and  Mr.  Hyne. 

Already  had  a  favorable  impression  been  created 
in  the  minds  of  the  young  ladies  for  the  gentlemen  in 
question ;  but  before  the  most  remote  intimation  of 
it  should  be  given  to  them,  direct  or  indirect,  it  had 
become  a  settled-upon  determination  with  Ellen  and 
Susan  to  let  the  young  gentlemen  know  from  exper- 
ience, and  from  a  round  of  purposed  difficulties 
thrown  in  their  way,  that  a  total  recantation  of  such 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEEIXGAY.  227 

opinions  as  they  entertained,  and  had  expressed,  was 
required  of  them.  And  that  women,  though  not  all 
Yenuses  in  point  of  beauty,  are  yet  equally  entitled 
to  the  sincere  affections  of  men,  as  those  who  are  so  ; 
and  are,  also,  no  less  capable  of  making  men  happy 
under  the  should-be  (but  too  often  abused)  endeared 
title  of  wife,  as  those  who  are  endowed  with  every 
elegance  of  form,  face  and  feature. 

Night  after  night,  after  all  was  quiet  at  the  Inn, 
Melvin  went  to.  the  mansion,  and  returned  from  it 
early  in  every  and  each  arrived  morning.  There  in 
familiar  converse  in  furtherance  of  the  plans  of  the 
ladies,  he  was,  as  has  been  heretofore  seen,  at  the 
head  of  their  arrangements  and  intention.  Here  was 
also  had  occcasional  interviews  with  the  huntsmen 
before  spoken  of,  and  who  I  shall  now  introduce  to 
the  further  notice  of  my  readers  under  the  names  of 
Charles  Everett,  Henry  Neville,  Eufus  Clement, 
Lucien  Arnsdale,  William  Irvin  and  James  Yancy. 

The  well  known  integrity  and  high  bearing  of  those 
young  men,  and  the  intimate  acquaintance  of  Melvin 
and  his  family  with  them,  and  their  parents,  were  pre- 
ventatives  on  the  part  of  the  ladies  to  the  least  hesita- 
tion in  associating  them  with  their  intended  plan; 
and  relative  to  the  estimation  in  which  the  ladies  were 
held  by  the  gentlemen,  I  may  only  refer  my  readers 
to  the  declaration  of  the  huntsmen  on.  the  night  they 
assembled  at  the  Inn  preceding  the  deer  hunt. 

As  yet  and  since  that  morning,  Lawrence  and  Ilyne 
had  made  the  acquaintance  of  none,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  those  already  before  my  readers,  and  so  far  as 
information  is  concerned,  as  being  obtained  from  ser- 
vants at  or  about  the  Inn,  and  at  the  mansion,  our 


228  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERKSTCAY. 

young  gentlemen  were  completely  debarred,  for  they, 
being  without  the  proper  signals  to  obtain  it,  were,  at 
every  attempt  at  inquiry,  answered  by  those  to  whom 
they  applied,  with  a  particular  use  of  the  fore  finger 
of  the  right  hand,  and  of  which  my  readers  have 
already  been  apprized. 

Although  in  the  ultimate,  and  in  that  part  of  their 
intended  plan  of  penance,  for  what  the  ladies  thought 
a  want  of  due  respect  for  their  sex  in  their  eastern 
admirers,  they  resorted  to  a  greater  degree  of  severity 
than  necessary  for  the  offence  committed ;  it  was  the 
intention  of  the  ladies,  even  in  that  instance,  to  make 
the  victims  of  their  revenge  as  comfortable  as  their 
respective  treatments  would  admit  of. 

It  has  been  said  by  one  of  the  leading  characters  in 
this  work,  and  that  much  to  the  honor  and  credit  of 
the  fair  sex,  "  that  where  ladies  take  an  interest  in 
advancing  the  happiness  of  our  sex,  their  acts  are 
from  the  best  of  motives,  and  a  less  danger  of  ills 
resulting  from  them  than  otherwise.  I  shall  go  fur- 
ther and  beg  leave  of  nature's  fair  to  add  :  that  they 
seldom,  if  ever,  fail  of  success,  while  those  of  like 
effort  in  men  for  men,  are  but  too  often  merged  in 
difficulties,  and  resulting  in  a  worse  condition  of  those 
for  whom  intended,  than  when  commenced. 

My  readers  have  been  informed  of  the  main  object 
had  in  view  in  the  "  deer  hunt, "  already  spoken  of. 
The  "  cavern,  "  of  which  an  account  has  also  been 
given,  being  in  a  state  of  nature  and  unqualified  by 
anything  in  art,  with  which  to  render  its  habitation 
even  a  tolerable  one  to  those  who  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  the  conveniences  and  comfort  of  fine  houses 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  was  now  one  of  the  next 


THE  HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEEINGAY.  229 

objects  of  consideration,  with  our  ladies.  For  that 
purpose  they  assembled  their  confederates  and  in  gen- 
eral consultation,  determined  upon  preparing  the  two 
rooms  of  the  second  apartment,  and  that  of  the  third 
or  "  Chamber  of  Death  "  for  Lawrence  and  Hyne  du- 
ring their  captivity  by  the  "  bandits, "  who  were  to 
occupy  the  front  or  entrance  room  of  the  cavern. 

Close  was  to  assume  the  appearance  of  a  maniac, 
combining  with  it  at  intervals  that  of  a  soothsayer, 
and  occasionally  to  be  at  the  Inn,  for  the  purpose  of 
watching  the  movements  of  our  young  friends,  and 
in  their  walks  and  rambles  to  place  himself,  as  if  by 
accident,  in  their  way. 

Handy  was  to  attend  upon  and  act  a  servant's  part 
to  the  confederates,  while  they,  commanded  by  one  of 
their  party  as  chief,  were  to  act  in  separate  parties  as 
a  guard  over  their  prisoners. 

In  the  rooms  of  the  cavern  destined  for  the  safe 
keeping  of  the  prisoners,  were  to  be  placed  articles^ 
as  trophies,  taken  at  different  times  by  the  bandits. 
And  in  the  Chamber  of  Death  were,  in  addition  to  , 
fragments  of  human  skeletons  then  there,  from  time 
unknown,  to  be  interspersed  here  and  there,  appear- 
ances of  rapine  and  murder ;  and  as  for  Standly, 
should  occasion  require  it,  he  was  to  betray  his  young 
friends  and  appear  in  evidence  against  them. 

I  have  now  given  a  plot  of  the  future,  to  appear  in 
the  subsequent  chapters  of  this  work  ;  and  think  not, 
my  fair  readers,  that  the  description  just  given  of  the 
order  and  intentions  of  two  of  your  sex  in  a  further 
development  was,  with  them,  a  prepared  intent  to 
take  life.  But,  on  the  contrary,  to  save  it.  And,  in 
their  own  way  to  elevate  those  against  whom  they 


230  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

may  at  the  present  time,  seem  inimical  to  conditions 
far  preferable  to  those  now  about  to  take  place.  Bear 
with  me  a  while  longer,  and  in  a  few  subsequent  chap- 
ters from  where  your  kind  indulgences  are  at  present 
with  your  humble  author,  he  will  endeavor  to  place 
things  in  that  sort  of  light  for  which  your  sex  are  ever 
most  celebrated — virtue,  constancy,  kindness,  love  and 
mercy. 


CHAPTEE    XXXII. 

Our  motives  and  acts  for  honorable  purposes,  generally  carry  with  them 
the  weight  and  influence  of  success. 

A  NEW  field  was  now  being  opened,  when  the  men- 
tal and  physical  action  of  the  distinct  parties,  as  men- 
tioned in  the  preceding  chapter,  were  to  continue 
their  operations.  The  one  in  the  concentration  of  all 
that  force  of  imagination,  power  of  elegance,  suavity 
of  manners,  and  impressively  pleasing  look  and  de- 
portment which  Cupid,  in  his  ordered  array  of  the 
tender  passions,  engendered  in  the  bosom  ;  and  from 
whence  to  flow  through  the  mediums  just  men- 
tioned upon  the  objects  of  our  affections  ;  the  other, 
though  the  conductors  of  it  had,  ultimately,  a  like 
object  in  view,  and  had  chose  to  arrive  at  it  by  other 
means,  is  seen,  for  the  time  being,  intent  upon  obey- 
ing orders  to  the  letter,  and  with  false  pretensions 
and  all  its  retinue  of  disreputableness,  descending  to 
that  of  the  glaring  appearance  of  apparently  intended 
murder  itself ;  and  to  make  love  the  subordinate  to 


THE    HEIRESSES    OF    FOTHERINGAY.  231 

humor  for  the  present,  in  order  to  its  more  brilliant 
display  in  the  future. 

For  some  days  after  the  disclosure  made  by  Melvin, 
Laurence  and  Hyne  were  observed  to  be  more  than 
usually  silent,  and  no  remark  whatever  had  been 
made  by  them  relative  to  Melvin,  Urnsden,  or  of  the 
ladies.  The  books  that  had  been  sent  to  them,  no 
one  knew  by  whom,  were  now  taken  up  and  read 
with  constant  and  unabated  attention  ;  and  the  hours 
as  they  passed  were  divided  by  the  gentlemen  into 
the  respective  periods  for  refreshment,  labor  and 
sleep. 

Those  considered  for  labor,  were  the  hours  devoted 
to  reading,  study,  music  and  drawing,  subdivided  into 
separate  time  for  each  avocation.  Thus  employed, 
they  were  seldom  out  of  their  room,  which  circum- 
stance gave  Standly  a  better  opportunity  to  study  the 
part  assigned  him,  and  watching  from  time  to  time, 
the  occurrences  upon  which  he  might  be  called  upon 
to  testify;  and  when  occasion  offered,  had  interviews 
with  the  ladies  at  the  mansion  and  with  others  in  his 
double  capacity  of  seeming  friend  and  seeming  foe. 

At  one  time,  and  in  one  of  their  meetings,  a  dis- 
crepancy of  opinion  was  discovered  upon  the  subject 
of  who  amongst  the  confederates  should  be  appointed 
their  chief  in  command. 

Each  of  the  huntsmen,  in  his  warmth  of  desire, 
contended  for  that  honor,  as,  upon  it  rested  an  event, 
not  now  to  be  made  known,  but  ere  the  last  line  of 
this  work  shall  have  been  written,  will,  among  other 
things,  be  forthcoming  in  its  closing  chapter.  All 
being  candidates,  and  each  one  not  allowed  to  cast  a 
vote  for  himself,  after  some  trial,  the  attempt  at  elec- 


232  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

tion  was  dropped,  and  the  affair  of  appointment  re- 
ferred to  Miss  Ellen  and  to  Miss  Susan  Dierdoffe. 

"With  a  view  to  an  amicable  settlement  of  the  matter 
in  dispute,  the  ladies  decided  that  each  one  of  the  six 
gentlemen  should  draw  one  card  from  a  deck,  and 
that  he  who  should  hold  in  his  hand  the  "  ace  of 
diamonds,"  or  the  nearest  in  a  less  number  of  spots  to 
the  like  card,  should  be  the  one  appointed  to  com- 
mand, and  to  the  control  and  government  of  the  whole 
party. 

That  meeting  was  in  the  library,  where  the  occur- 
rences that  had  there  taken  place,  in  times  past  and 
gone,  are  all  probably  still  fresh  in  the  memory  of 
my  readers.  But  a  subsequent  as  singular  event  to 
that  of  a  declaration  of  love,  and  a  favorable  answer 
returned,  remains  to  be  told  as  having  taken  place 
there. 

One  thing  at  a  time,  however,  and  there  will  be 
less  danger  of  confusion ;  and  if  the  lack  of  interest 
and  pleasure  to  my  readers  is  now  mine,  in  the  here- 
tofore material  furnished,  the  future  may  add  a  zest 
to  all  that  has  been  written,  and  obtain  for  itself  a  re- 
spectable reception  in  the  estimation  of  those  in  whose 
hands  this  work  may  fall. 

The  company  was  in  a  short  time  furnished  with  a 
new  deck  of  cards  by  Melvin,  and  handing  it  to  one 
of  the  ladies,  she  separated  the  diamond  cards  from 
the  rest  of  the  deck,  and  in  a  few  moments  after  the 
result  was  ascertained. 

At  the  ladies'  request,  each  gentleman  drew  from 
her  hand  a  card,  and  holding  them  in  silence  until 
directed ;  at  an  order  given,  they  deposited  them  upon 
the  table  before  her.  The  moment  it  was  done,  it 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  233 

was  accompanied  by  a  simultaneous  expression  from 
them,  of  "  Nevelle  is  our  leader !" 

"  And,"  exclaimed  Melvin,  "  well  he  may  be,  for  his 
card  is  the  ace  of  diamonds  itself  I" 

"A  good  omen,  Mr.  Nevelle,"  said  Urnsden,  "and 
that  to  which  I  wish  to  draw  your  attention,  as  one 
of  your  first  official  acts,  is  to  recommend  your  ap- 
pointment of  an  assistant,  or  second  in  command ;  and 
my  reasons  for  it  are,  that  your  duties  may  not  always 
enable  you  to  be  present,  in  which  event  a  loss  of 
time  and  an  availment  of  urgent  circumstances  would 
be  the  pernicious  consequences." 

"  True,"  replied  Melvin. 

At  that  moment,  the  eyes  of  all  present  were  turned 
upon  Nevelle,  who,  rising  from  his  chair,  and,  after 
a  graceful  bow  given  to  the  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
said, 

"  I  know  of  nothing  ever  creating  a  greater  pleasure 
to  me,  than  that  which,  it  seems,  chance  alone  has 
destined  me  to.  And  that  is  the  chief-in-command, 
wherein  the  happiness  of  two,  at  least,  (looking  at 
Ellen  and  Susan)  of  our  long-known  and  esteemed 
friends  are  concerned.  That  their  plan  for  obtaining 
the  object  of  their  affections,  and  forming  a  future 
basis  of  their  future  bliss,  is  novel,  none  can  pretend 
to  deny !  In  it  I  am  called  to  act  a  conspicuous  as 
responsible  part ;  and  associated  with  the  gentlemen  I 
have  the  pleasure  as  well  as  honor  to  be,  no  care  will 
be  spared  with  our  joint  efforts,  in  the  like  chivalric 
duties  before  us,  to  terminate  the  plan  intrusted  to 
our  execution,  for  our  lady  friends  and  all  others 
concerned,  in  the  best,  highest  and  most  pleasingly 
satisfactory  manner  within  our  power." 


234  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

Then  addressing  his  comrades,  he  said, 

"Gentlemen,  blame  me  not  for  the  impossibility 
with  me  to  appoint  you  all  to  office,  however  much  it 
might  be  my  wish  to  do  so.  '  Our  raising  and  educa- 
tions have  been  together,  and  were  it  practicable  upon 
the  present  occasion,  I  should  make  no  distinction, 
nor  portray  partiality.  But  the  latter  is  imperative." 
Here  a  momentary  pause  ensued,  when  placing  his 
eyes  upon  him,  with  an  expressive  look  of  esteem  and 
confidence,  he  said,  "  I  appoint  to  my  second  in  com- 
mand, Mr.  Charles  Everett." 

At  his  enunciation  the  room  resounded  with  loud 
applause  from  all  in  it ;  and  after  a  few  moments, 
upon  the  necessity  of  a  genteel  deportment  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  several  duties,  Nevelle  resumed  his 
seat ;  after  which  followed  a  social  and  agreeable  even- 
ing, spent  in  the  family  of  Urnsden,  when,  at  a  late 
hour,  the  junior  part  of  our  confederates  left  for  their 
respective  homes. 

"  Thus  far,  and  since  the  promise  given  by  Melvin, 
before  the  change  to  that  name  from  his  real  one  had 
taken  place,  to  make  a  report  to  our  friends  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  relative  to  the  movements  of  their 
sons  and  other  matters  connected  with  them,  no  letter 
or  even  a  note  had  ever  been  written.  And,  with  re- 
gard to  the  letters  of  the  young  gentlemen  to  their 
parents,  no  answers  had  been  received.  That  state  of 
affairs  with  them,  had  been  previously  taken  care  of 
by  Melvin,  whose  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  post- 
master, some  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  distant,  had  pro- 
duced the  practice  of  having  all  letters  directed  to  any 
of  his  family  or  persons  residing  at  the  Mountain  Inn, 
sent  directly  to  his  personal  care.  Thus,  the  chance 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  235 

for  interception  being  in  his  power,  it  was  invariably 
practiced  by  Melvin  upon  all  letters  written  by  our 
young  travellers,  no  matter  whether  to  relatives,  or  to 
whom  else,  in  or  about  the  city  of  New  York.  The 
practice,  however,  was  different  with  regard  to  Standly, 
inasmuch  as  the  letters  passing  to  and  from  him,  were 
regularly  received,  and  in  no  instance  was  there  a 
single  interception. 

That  state  of  affairs  would,  at  times,  create  surprise 
and  awaken  in  the  minds  of  our  young  friends  a 
disposition  to  murmur  and  wonder  at  such  apparent 
neglect.  But  the  false  philosophy  of  Standly  was 
Falstaff-like,  at  the  bottom  of  all  of  it. 

Proud  of  the  position  he  then  occupied,  and  for 
reasons  which  may  be  hereafter  spoken  of,  Neville 
lost  no  time  in  putting  into  effect  the  requirements 
entrusted  to  his  care ;  and  among  the  first  objects  to 
which  his  attention  was  drawn,  were~the  rooms  in  the 
Cavern. 

The  residence  of  Close  was  made  his  head-quarters, 
where  for  several  days  the  whole  of  his  command 
were  actively  employed  in  collecting  borrowed  arti- 
cles by  way  of  trophies,  and  making  such  arrangement 
of  them  as  would  be  most  conducive  of  effect  in  im- 
pressing the  imagination  with  an  idea  that  it  was  in 
reality  the  rendezvous  and  residence  of  bandits. 

The  first  object  in  the  interior  of  the  Cavern  to 
which  he  directed  the  attention  of  his  company,  was 
the  clearing  of  the  intricate  passes  ;  and,  that  he  did 
by  having  the  loose  rock  removed,  so  that  in  a  short 
time  to  pass  and  repass  through  those  routes  which 
were  before  difficult,  a  slight  bend  of  the  body  only, 
was  now  necessary. 


236  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

In  the  ante-cliamber  was  erected,  and  on  each  side 
of  the  entrance  door,  two  berths,  one  over  the  other, 
sufficiently  broad  to  contain  two  persons  each.  Upon 
those  places  for  sleep  was  placed  supplies  of  deer  and 
bear  skins,  to  which  was  added  a  plentiful  supply  of 
bedding  and  furniture  necessary  to  comfort.  As  an 
additional  convenience  to  that  apartment,  there  was 
made  in  it  a  sort  of  fire-place  built  of  stone  work,  pre- 
senting a  front  with  hearth  attached,  after  the  manner 
of  the  "  Franklin  stove." 

From  its  top  was  built  a  chimney  connected  with 
the  aperture  in  the  front  wall ;  around  and  about  that 
fixture,  was  a  place  for  everything,  and  everything  in 
its  place,  relative  to  the  sleeping,  cooking  and  wash- 
ing for  of  the  confederates. 

The  outer  door,  or  main  entrance  to  the  cavern,  was 
composed  of  oak  batten,  of  about  an  inch  thick,  fas- 
tened together  on  the  interior  side  by  slats  of  like  ma- 
terial. On  each  side  and  above  the  doorway,  was  made 
a  casement,  in  which  the  door  was  swung,  and  moved 
upon  a  strong  pair  of  iron  hinges.  Its  fastenings  were 
simply  two  wooden  bars,  at  equal  distance,  placed 
crossway  of  the  door,  and  resting  in  iron  staples  at  each 
end.  On  the  outside  of  that  door,  between  the  wood 
casement  of  the  interior  and  Nature's  stone  casement 
outward,  was  placed  a  steel  spring,  attached  to  a  wire, 
affixed  to  a  small  bell  that  was  suspended  immediately 
over  the  fire-place ;  the  touch  of  that  spring  announced 
the  arrival,  and  wish  to  enter  of  any  one  or  more  of 
the  company,  and  others,  invested  with  the  proper 
signals  performed  upon  the  bell  for  entry,  as  by  that 
means,  and  no  other,  was  an  admission  to  the  cavern 
allowed. 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF  FOTHERINGAY.  237 

In  the  second  apartment,  and  in  two  rooms,  which 
it  seemed  nature  had  intended  it  to  represent,  was 
exhibited  a  greater  display  of  artificial  work.  The 
entry  door  leading  into  the  first  room  of  the  apart- 
ment was  made  of  like  material  with  those  of  the 
main  entrance,  differing  only  in  the  mode  of  fastening, 
being  locks  instead  of  wooden  bars  and  iron  staples. 
For  the  passway,  from  one  to' the  other  of  the  cham- 
bers, a  frame  and  neat  casement  had  been  prepared, 
extending  to  a  height  of  eight  feet,  leaving  a  space 
between  that  and  the  works  of  nature,  at  the  upper 
part  of  the  door- way,  of  about  two  feet ;  that  recess 
was  filled  by  a  neatly  framed  window-sash,  containing 
two  rows  of  gas-lights. 

Upon  four  of  the  rock-pedestals,  as  it  were,  situated 
in  each  room  of  the  second  apartment,  about  six  one 
way  and  five  feet  the  other  way,  in  the  corner  of  each 
room  was  placed  a  wooden  frame,  having  a  head  and 
foot  board  to  it,  intended  to  answer  the  purpose  of  a 
bedstead.  These  frames  were  covered  with  battens, 
and  upon  each  was  placed  a  straw  and  feather  bed, 
with  all  of  every  article  of  covering;  and  furniture 
necessary  to  comfort.  A  like  process  of  framing  for 
tables  was  observed  as  that  already  resorted  to  for  bed- 
steads ;  and  for  that  purpose,  a  frame,  as  neat  as  cir- 
cumstances would  admit  of,  occupied  four  others  of 
the  elevated  rocks  in  each  room,  while  the  remainder 
of  them  answered  the  purposes  of  seats.  Upon  the 
floors  were  laid  riveted  boards,  which,  about  the  bed- 
steads were  covered  with  bear-skins. 

In  both  of  the  chambers  were  deposited  boxes, 
trunks,  and  other  materials,  with  a  view  to  the  repre- 
sentation of  plunder  taken  at  different  periods,  by  the 


238  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

supposed  inhabitants  of  this  subterranean  dwelling. 
Among  the  articles  of  value  were,  several  caskets  of 
jewelry,  and  other  valuables  of  gold  and  silver,  depo- 
sited in  small  boxes  and  placed  here  and  there  through- 
out the  rooms.  Added  to  these,  was  a  small  mirror, 
with  comb  and  brush,  wash-bowl,  soap,  pitcher,  and 
silver  tumbler,  placed  in  a  sort  of  wash-stand  in  each 
room.  The  apartments  thus  arranged  were  lighted  by 
several  small  oil  lamps,  suspended  by  wire  from  the 
projections  that  here  and  there  emanated  from  the 
crystal  columns  in  each. 

The  Chamber  of  Death  ! — That  apartment  displayed 
an  appearance  by  no  means  favorable  to  even  a  tole- 
rably pleasant  reflection.  It  had  also  its  door  and  its 
lock  and  resembled  much  the  appearance  of  a  dissect- 
ing room !  Such  apartments  must  be  as  a  necessary 
benefit  to  man.  And  think  not,  my  fair  readers,  that 
the  scenes  and  operations  to  which  surgery  as  a  science 
calls  the  attention  in  a  dissecting  apartment,  of  many 
talented  men,  that  those  gentlemen  are  any  the  less 
worthy  of  your  esteem  and  regard.  Two  lamps  only 
lighted  this  apartment,  as  if  to  corroborate  the  solemn 
grandeur  it  had,  once  or  more,  perhaps,  represented  ; 
and  was  still  bearing  an  impressive  resemblance  to — 
a  place  of  horror  and  despair. 

Having  finished  his,  then,  necessary  operations  at 
the  cavern,  Nevelle  and  his  command,  on  the  follow- 
ing day  waited  upon,  and  made  a  report  of  his  pro- 
ceedings to  the  ladies  at  the  mansion,  where  we  will 
leave  them  for  the  present,  and  until  some  other  events 
take  place  making  it  necessary  to  bring  them  collec- 
tively or  severally  again  before  us. 


THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  239 


CHAPTER   XXXIII. 

From  unexpected  and,  indeed,  unlocked  for  sources,  are  often  derived 
respect,  rank  and  wealth  ;  the  first  gives  weight,  the  second  influence, 
and  the  third  power,  in  the  affairs  of  men,  however  few  there  are  who 
merit  them. 

THE  day  following  the  report  of  Nevelle,  Melvin, 
Urnsden,  and  the  two  gentlemen  seen  at  the  Inn,  and 
subsequently  at  the  dinner  party,  were  noticed,  at  an 
early  hour,  entering  the  library ;  and  in  a  few  moments 
after  a  messenger  was  sent  to,  requesting  the  Misses 
Dierdoffe,  and  Ellen,  and  Susan  to  attend  them. 

Accustomed  as  they  were  to  affection  and  obedi- 
ence, but  ignorant  of  the  cause  why  sent  for  sooner 
than  the  usual  hour,  they  had  made  a  practice  of  daily 
being  with  Melvin  in  the  library,  the  requirements  of 
their  parents  were  no  sooner  given,  than  preparations 
for  compliance  were  made ;  and  in  a  short  time  they 
were  in  the  presence  of  those  by  whom  they  had  been 
sent  for. 

On  entering  the  room,  and  the  usual  etiquette  of 
civility  had  passed  between  them,  and  the  gentlemen 
present,  Melvin  requested  the  ladies  to  take  the  chairs, 
that  had  been  placed  at  a  table  where  he  was  seated 
on  one,  while  Urnsden  and  the  other  gentlemen  occu- 
pied others  at  the  opposite  side  of  the  fire-place. 

"  Young  ladies, "  said  Melvin,  as  a  pleasant  smile 
denoted  the  effusions  of  a  noble  soul,  "yesterday  you 
spent  the  greater  part  of  the  day  with  those  who,  like 
yourselves,  are  in  possession  of  youthful  hearts,  and 


240  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

the  workings  of  whose  minds  are  untrammelled  by 
the  cares  of  life,  nor  a  thought  upon  the  future  of 
experience.  This,  in  its  place,  I  am  happy  to  see; 
and  which,  in  the  order  of  nature's  divine  Author,  is 
peculiarly  the  province  of  youth.  As  the  onward 
march  of  life  and  experience  produces  proofs  of  real- 
ity, the  mind  gradually  assumes  a  different  position 
for  its  axis ;  and  though  then  far  removed  from  the 
like  sphere  which  is  now  being  occupied  by  your- 
selves, can  revert  to  the  scenes  of  youth,  and  with 
pleasure  there,  have  pass  in  review  those  of  such  times 
as  are  now  yours.  Such,  I  am  happy  to  say,  is  the 
state  of  the  minds  of  those  in  whose  presence  you  now 
are.  To  recite  some  of  my  own  and  the  acts  of 
others,  with  whom  I  was  concerned,  is  my  present 
purpose,  and  with  that  view  you  have  been  sent  for 
to  lend  me  your  attentions,  in  common  with  the  gen- 
tlemen present,  while  I  am  disclosing  things  hereto- 
fore purposely  kept  from  you,  until  your  minds 
should  have  become  sufficiently  mature  to  receive 
them.  That  time  has  arrived,  and  it  is  now  that  I 
ask  of  you  your  attention. " 

Here,  Melvin  went  to  his  bureau,  and  unlocking, 
took  from  it  an  ebony  box  of  neat  workmanship, 
about  ten  square  and  eight  inches  in  depth,  and  re- 
turning to  his  seat  placed  the  box  upon  the  table, 
with  one  hand  resting  upon  it,  and  again  addressing 
himself  to  the  ladies  said :  "  You  look  upon  this 
article,  as  I  presume,  with  some  degree  of  surprise, 
and  an  appearance  of  intense  thought ;  and  well  you 
may,  for  ere  I  have  done  with  it,  and  the  events  at- 
tached to  it,  an  agreeable  as  happy  and  profitable 
result  will  be  the  consequence ;  giving  to  those,  whom 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  241 

its  contents  concern,  a  new  era  in  the  future  of  their 
lives,  heretofore  unknown,  and  by  no  means  ever 
thought  of  by  them. 

"  Ever  the  friend,  since  the  period  of  manhood  com- 
menced its  course  upon  me,  of  the  distressed  and  un- 
fortunate in  want,  and  especially  in  cases  where  the 
weaker  portion  of  the  master-piece  of  creation  is  con- 
cerned, I  with  one  other,  whose  feelings  are  still  con- 
genial with  rny  own,  engaged  in  an  enterprise  resulting 
more  fortunately  than  either  of  us  could  have  then 
entertained  an  idea  of,  and  of  which  I  was  fully  ap- 
prized the  year  I  became  a  married  man. 

"  In  the  affair  alluded  to,  it  became  necessary  with 
a  view  to  its  accomplishment,  to  assume  different 
names  to  those  of  our  real  ones ;  and  my  friend  took 
upon  himself  that  of  'Urnsden,'  and  I,  that  of '  Mel- 
vinf  both  now  familiar  ones  to  you,  and  which  Mr. 
Dierdoffe  and  myself  have  adopted  in  the  circum- 
stances transpiring  relative  'to  two  of  you.  In  the 
latter  instance  those  names  have  been  resorted  to  con- 
sequent upon  the  success  attending  their  adoption 
with  me  in  former  and  long  passed  days. 

"  At  that  time,  and  on  the  edge  of  a  small  village 
in  a  State  renowned  for  the  name  of  Tory,  there  lived 
a  poor  man  having  a  wife  and  four  small  children. 
Near  it,  and  under  orders  from  a  distinguished  parti- 
san of  the  Revolution,  a  small  party  of  young  menj 
(of  whom  I  had  the  honor  of  being  one)  was  stationed 
for  the  purpose  of  watching  the  movements  of  a  party 
of  the  class  of  gentry  just  spoken  of. 

"It  was  the  fortune  of  our  party  to  live  in  the 
family  of  a  sterling  friend  to  the  liberty  and  indepen- 
dence of  his  country,  and  withal,  a  wealthy  onrt ;  ro 
U 


242  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEKINGAY. 

that,  in  truth,  the  prevailing  opinion  was,  that  the  fine 
young  men  residing  with  him  were  relations  of  his, 
and  excited  no  more  observation  among  the  disaf- 
fected, by  whom  he  was  surrounded,  than  the  sneering 
remark  of,  '  What  can  one  poor  devil  of  an  enemy  to 
his  Majesty  do,  when  surrounded  by  such  friends  to 
'  King  Gorge'  as  we  are.' 

"  That  kind  of  doctrine  was  of  much  service  to  the 
gentlemen  and  to  our  party,  and  profiting  by  it,  our 
plans  were  securely  laid,  and  our  operations,  deeply 
executed,  were  severely  felt  without  the  smallest  sus- 
picion being  attached  to  us. 

"  One  day,  being  in  company  with  my  friend,  at  a 
poor  excuse  for  a  '  tavern,'  in  the  village,  we  hap- 
pened to  be  near  two  men,  who  in  listening  to,  with- 
out the  appearance  of  doing  so,  we  heard  one  say  to 
the  other : 

"  '  Tom,  it  is  our  time  now  to  make  a  haul,  and  if 
we  are  cunning  we  can  do  so  very  easy.' 

"  '  What  do  you  mean  ?'  asked  his  companion. 

"  'I  mean,'  returned  the  other,  '  that  the  rest  of  the 
boys  in  our  company  of  His  "  Majesty's"  scouting 
subjects  have,  in  their  routes  against  the  "  rebels," 
robbed  them  of  many  a  bright  guinea,  and  as  they 
have  done  so,  I  see  no  harm  in  our  following  their 
example  ;  and  as  I  said  just  now,  if  we  are  not  found 
out  in  it,  can  just  as  well  pocket  the  nice  sum  of  two 
thousand  five  hundred  pounds  each.' 

"'Indeed!'  replied  Tom,  with  a  grin  of  willing 
approval,  '  then  I  agree  with  you ;'  but,  he  con- 
tinued, '  as  you  have  not  told  me,  I  must  ask,  how 
that  is  to  bs  done  ?' 

"  '  Why,'  replied  the  other,  '  the  old  man  that  lives 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  243 

at  the  edge  of  the  village,  in  the  little  log  cabin,  has 
fallen  sole  heir  to  the  estate  of  an  old  fellow  who 
thought  he  had  played  u  rebel"  long  enough,  and  who 
made  a  die  of  it  some  six  months  ago.  I  have  seen  a 
copy  of  his  will,  and  have  gone  so  far  in  the  promotion 
of  our  plan,  as  to  propose  to  the  old  man  in  the  cabin, 
who  is  illiterate,  (another  item  in  our  favor)  to  act  as 
his  attorney  in  getting  his  fortune,  which  the  will  says 
is  "  cash,"  and  deposited  in  bank.  And,'  continued 
the  wiseacre,  'all  we  have  to  do  now  is,  to  become 
his  agents,  get  possession  of  his  papers,  prepare  a 
false  demise  drawn  in  the  forcible  appearance  of  reality 
in  our  favor,  and  then  by  a  slow  process  of  unper- 
ceived  doses  of  poison  to  take  his,  and  the  lives  of  his 
family.  You,'  continued  the  speaker,  'are  more 
conversant  with  business  than  I  am,  and  if  you  will 
join  me,  we  will  share  the  spoils  of  this  easy  and  sure 
mode  of  getting  a  good  start  in  the  world.' 

"Their  plan  was  then  matured;  and  the  next  day 
was  the  time  set  to  visit  the  old  man,  and  put  into  effect 
their  villanous  designs.  My  friend  and  I  became  in- 
censed at  such  demon-like  spirits,  as  could  devise  so 
cool  and  deliberate  a  plan  of  outrage,  and  determined 
to  put  a  stop  to  it  or  die  in  the  attempt  to  do  so.  Ac- 
cordingly we  watched  their  movemeats  of  that  day, 
and  in  a  few  hours  after,  had  the  satisfaction  to  learn 
that  they  were  ordered  upon  a  scouting  excursion  by 
their  leader  (as  he  was  termed)  to  return  the  next 
morning. 

"It  was  now  our  time,  and  that  evening  strangers 
as  we  were  to  him,  we  went  to  the  residence  of  the 
old  man ;  told  him  of  what  had  been  overheard  by  us, 
and  offered  ouj*  services  in  his  and  his  family's  pro- 


244  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

tection  and  defence.  Himself  and  his  wife,  seemed 
to  feel,  as  was  shown  in  their  every  act,  the  deepest 
sense  of  gratitude ;  and  soon  we  were  recognized  by 
them  as  the  champions  of  a  bloody  as  fatal  tragedy 
to  part  of  their  family. 

"  The  necessary  precautions  of  who  were  (and,  in- 
deed, remaining  unknown  in  that  section  of  country) 
the  old  man's  friends  in  the  affair  were  attended  to. 
And  there  is  but  one  man  living  who  knows  that  my 
friend  and  myself  had  anything  to  do  in  the  transac- 
tion ;  and  he  was  a  young  '  Attorney  at  Law,'  at  that 
time,  belonging  to  our  company,  and  who  I  had  got 
to  write  the  old  man's  will,  preparatory  to  any  fatal 
event  that  might  happen  to  him. 

"Having  been  made  his  executor,  I  took  possession 
of  his  papers,  and  leaving  in  their  stead,  and  in  the 
place  from  whence  the  old  man,  had  in  the  presence 
of  his  intended  assassin  taken  them  the  preceding 
day,  a  like  bundle  neatly  tied,  we  left  his  house ;  and 
did  so,  with  an  understanding  that  we  would  return 
to  it  the  next  day,  and  lay  concealed  near  there,  to 
watch  the  manoeuvres  of  the  old  man's  Tory  acqaint- 
ance  and  his  accomplice. 

"  Upon  the  following  day  we  were  disguised  and 
properly  armed,  and  at  an  early  hour  took  our  station 
in  a  thicket  of  bushes  that  stood  a  short  distance  from 
the  old  man's  cabin,  from  whence  we  had  a  clear  view 
of  the  village,  and  all  who  passed  to  and  from  it. 

"  The  sun  had  nearly  set  when  we  began  to  think 
that  the  Tories  had  abandoned  their  plan,  at  least  for 
that  time ;  but  as  twilight  grew  dim  we  discovered 
two  men  bending  their  course  toward  the  house. 
They  being  yet  at  some  distance  off,  and  that  moment 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   TOTHERINGAY.  245 

the  old  man  coming  to  us,  (doubtless  from  his  anxiety 
for  safety),  we  entered  the  house  with  him,  taking  a 
position  in  the  rear  of  a  plank  partition. 

"Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  disciple  of  the  renowned 
Iscariot,  he  renewed  the  proposals  he  had  made  to  the 
old  man  the  day  before  ;  adding,  that  he  had  brought 
his  friend  with  him,  who  was  well  versed  in  the  law, 
who  would  render  him  every  assistance  in  obtaining 
ample  justice,  and  charging  no  more  for  all,  than  the 
usual  fee  in  such  cases.  And  in  order  to  a  speedy 
obtaining  of  his  legacy,  that  it  was  only  necessary  for 
him  to  sign  that  night  a  document  that  they  had 
brought  with  them.  After  some  -conversation  upon 
the  subject,  the  old  man  thanked  him  for  the  interest 
himself  and  his  companion  had  taken,  and  said :  '  that 
he  believed  he  would  decline  doing  anything,  for  the 
present  in  the  matter.  That  he  knew  his  money  safe 
where  it  then  was,  that  himself  and  his  wife  were  not, 
at  that  time  in  want  of  it ;  and  that  he  designed  the 
fortune  that  had  been  left  him,  for  his  young  and  help- 
less children,  when  they  should  have  become  men  and 
women.' 

"  At  that  our  Mentor  of  the  day  before,  coolly,  and 
with  an  air  of  much  assumed  consequence,  replied: 
'  Old  man,  we  did  not  come  here  to-night  for  the  pur- 
pose of  hearing  expressions  of  gratitude,  nor  to  receive 
flattering  compliments,  but  to  have  you  do  what  is 
required,  leaving  the  result  to  our  own  mode  of  future 
friendship.  If  that  is  not  done,  then  to  compel  you 
to  a  compliance  with  our  proposition,  even  at  the 
expense  of  the  lives  of  yourself,  your  wife  and  your 
children.  One  half  hour,'  he  continued,  '  by  the  watch 
(which  he  held  in  his  hand)  will  be  given  to  determine 


246  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY. 

upon,  of  what  you  will  do ;  and  in  the  meantime  I 
shall  see  if  things  are  in  the  same  place  I  saw  them 
put  yesterday.'  Thus  saying  the  speaker  rose  from 
his  seat,  and  stepping  to  the  bed  upon  which  the 
little  children  were  lying  in  a  profound  sleep,  took 
from  between  the  feather  and  straw  beds,  a  package 
of  papers,  as  he  supposed,  seen  placed  there  the  day 
before.  '  This,'  said  he,  '  is  what  we  want,  and  if  you 
will  not  let  us  have  it  in  the  way  offered  you,  you  are 
out  of  the  reach  of  assistance,  and  must  die  to-night.' 
Still  by  the  bed-side,  where  he  had  just  discovered  the 
children,  and  the  half  hour  having  expired,  in  a  few 
minutes,  and  showing  a  vial  then  in  his  hand,  he  said: 
'  Do  you  see  this  little  weapon  ?  It  has  just  given  per- 
mission to  your  children  to  enjoy  a  longer  sleep,  and  the 
next  objects  to  which  we  shall  turn  our  attention,  is 
to  tie  both  of  you  together,  by  ropes  prepared  for  that 
purpose,  and  leaving  you  so,  go  away  by  the  light 
afforded  from  the  burning  of  your  house.' 

"  Here  a  different  course  took  place  from  the  one 
intended  by  that  deliberation  ;  and,  before  I  proceed 
further,  it  is  necessary  here  to  state,  that  the  fourth 
child  (a  girl)  would  have  met  a  like  fate  in  the  tragi- 
cal parts  of  the  scenes  of  that  night  had  it  have  been 
at  the  head  instead  of  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  where  it 
escaped  the  notice  of  the  assassin. 

"  That  mode  of  taking  the  lives  of  the  children, 
was  unexpected  as  unforeseen  by  either  my  friend  or 
myself,  and  the  manner  of  its  perpetration,  put  the 
little  sufferers  beyond  the  reach  of  our  protection. 
Not  so,  however,  with  the  old  man,  his  wife  and 
the  remaining  child,  which,  at  that  time  awoke  from 
its  slumber.  They  were  seized  upon  by  the  fiends ; 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERINGAY.  247 

but  that  act  by  them,  was  the  signal  of  their  destruc- 
tion ;  for,  in  the  next  moment,  my  friend  had  one, 
and  I  the  other  by  their  throats  with  one  hand, 
while  in  the  other  was  held  our  drawn  daggers. 

"  As  they  had  committed  murder  silently,  it  was  our 
object  to  revenge  the  wrong  in  like  manner.  But 
our  enemies  had  nearly  forced  a  change  of  that  inten- 
tion, for  he  who  was  grappling  with  my  friend,  was 
in  the  act  of  drawing  his  pistol  from  a  place  in  the 
breast  of  his  coat,  when,  in  the  next  instant,  my 
friend  perceiving  it,  the  scoundrel  fell  dead  at  his 
feet.  Here  the  wretch  I  had  hold  of  begged  for  an 
extension  of  mercy,  that  was  granted,  and  while  in  a 
pretence  at  confession,  aimed  a  blow  at  me  with  his 
dagger,  which  was  lodged  in  the  arm  of  my  friend. 
At  that  the  villain  received  a  wound,  of  which  he 
died  the  next  day,  after  a  confession  in  reality  of  his, 
and  the  crimes  of  his  accomplice.  Adding,  'That  he 
knew  not  by  whom  the  justice  of  the  retribution  for 
them  had  been  inflicted.'' 

"  The  scenes  I  have  just  told  you  of,"  continued 
Melvin,  "  had  all  taken  place  between  dusk  and  the 
hour  of  ten  on  that  night,  and  the  remainder  of  it 
was  occupied  with  a  view  to  prevent  suspicion  resting 
upon  us  as  being  concerned  in  the  rescue  of  the 
family.  We  remained  with  them  until  about  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  when,  giving  instructions  to 
the  old  man  and  his  wife  of  how  to  act  on  the  follow- 
ing day  and  subsequently,  we  left  them  ;  and  on  our 
way  home  divested  ourselves  of  our  dresses  of  dis- 
guise, and  after  consigning  them  to  perpetual 
oblivion  in  a  deep  and  sluggish  stream  close  by,  we 
regained  our  rooms  without  the  knowledge  of  any, 


248  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

save  our  long  known,  and  then,  as  ever  since,  highly 
esteemed  friend,  the  '  attorney  at  law.' 

"  The  old  man  did  as  we  had  instructed  him  to  do. 
The  next  day  was  one  of  excitement  throughout  the 
whole  village,  and  soon  the  news  of  it  reached  our 
residence,  where,  upon  hearing  it,  my  partizan  com- 
rades and  myself,  and  the  gentlemen  with  whom  we 
lived,  repaired  to  the  scene  of  murder. 

"Just  at  our  arrival  there  we  found  the  old  man  and 
his  wife  (as  three  of  us  know  they  were)  truly  dis- 
tressed at  the  loss  of  their  children,  and  at  this  time 
going  about  expressing  their  wishes  that  some  kind 
one  would  be  their  friend  in  the  decent  burial  of  their 
children. 

"Passing  through  the  crowd  and  watching  for  the 
sign  which  we  told  him  would  be  upon  the  persons 
of  my  friend  and  me,  by  which  he  would  know  us 
from  others,  he  came,  presently,  to  where  we  were, 
and  looking  imploringly  at  us,  said : 

"Strangers,  will  you  be  the  friends  of  two  distres- 
sed parents  and  their  only  remaining  child?' 

"  In  a  very  little  time  the  crowd  was  dense  around 
the  speaker  and  ourselves,  and  after  some  questions 
were  put  to  the  old  man,  and  his  answers  returned,  an 
assent  was  given  to  his  request. 

"Before  the  man  died,  as  spoken  of,  the  cause  of  the 
murders,  and  subsequent  intention  of  the  murderers, 
were  made  known,  and  in  a  few  days  after  the  old 
man  made  another  will.  He  wished  much  to  make 
the  two  known,  to  his  and  the  rescue  of  his,  wife  and 
child  from  death,  legatees,  but  we  declined  it  upon 
the  basis  that  our  compensation  was  already  had.  in 
the  pleasure  we  felt  in  the  service  rendered  him. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  249 

"A  few  months  after  that  event  a  separation  of  my 
two  friends  and  myself  took  place.  One,  for  parts 
unknown;  myself,  as  a  commissioned  officer  in  the 
army  of  the  Revolution — and  the  attorney  to  follow 
his  profession.  The  latter  I  left  my  agent,  and 
among  other  duties  left  in  his  care,  one  was,  to  see  to 
and  provide  for,  out  of  means  always  in  the  hands  of 
my  agent,  all  necessary  comforts  for  the  use  of  the 
old  man,  his  wife  and  their  child. 

"  The  age  of  woman  succeeded  that  of  childhood 
and,  in  the  meantime,  death  deprived  her  of  her 
father  and  mother. 

"About  thirty  years  after  the  murders  already  spo- 
ken of,  I  met  with  my  two  friends.  The  one  who 
had  been  with  me  in  the  village  had  accumulated  a 
fortune,  was  married,  but  without  children,  and  had 
adopted  the  fatherless  and  motherless  ones  of  the  old 
man's  and  woman's  daughter,  whose  life  we  had  saved 
when  a  child. 

"  Of  the  four  children  my  friend  had  adopted,  two 
died  shortly  after  I  first  saw  them.  Having  two  girls 
only  out  of  the  four  left,  they  become  well  raised,  and 
every  attention  was  bestowed  upon  them  in  their 
education  by  my  friend. 

"  The  other  one  of  my  friends  had  also  married,  and 
had,  at  the  time  now  spoken  of,  a  wife  and  two  promis- 
ing little  boys.  Misfortune,  however,  dealt  severely 
with  him,  as  he  was  then  and  is  still  poor. 

"  At  the  consent  of  my  poor  friend  and  his  wife, 
the  children  were  taken  quite  young  from  them,  and 
have  been  raised  and  educated  by  a  friend  of  theirs 
and  of  their  parents.  To  this  day,  as  a  piece  of  ec- 
centricity in  theirs,  and  their  father's  and  mother's 


250  THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

benefactor,  those  children,  now  grown,  do  not  know 
who  their  father  and  mother  are. 

"Both  of  the  children,  from  particular  traits  dis- 
covered in  their  childhood,  bore  different  names  from 
those  of  their  real  ones ;  and  to  this  day  are  accosted 
by  no  other,  nor  are  they  in  possession  of  the  least 
intimation  of  any  other  being  theirs.  But  the  time," 
continued  Melvin,  "  for  them  to  know  their  real 
names,  and  whose  sons  they  are,  as  also  those  of  the 
young  ladies,  of  whose  daughters  they  are,  is,  in  both 
instances,  not  far  distant. 

"  I  have  now,"  he  continued,  "  given  you  an  account 
of  events  that  a  short  sequel  will  cast  a  stronger  light 
upon,  and  will,  I  hope,  in  its  development,  not  fail  in 
affording  an  agreeable  surprise  in  the  minds  of  those 
to  whom  I  have  told  part  only  of  the  events  of  my 
life." 

Here  Melvin  took  a  small  key  from  his  vest  pocket, 
with  which  he  unlocked,  the  box  before  him,  and 
taking  from  it  a  bundle  of  papers,  from  that  he  took 
and  read  to  the  ladies  and  gentlemen,  the  following 
letter. 

"  Fotheririgay,  Virginia,  Sept.  15,  1785. 
"  To  my  only  child,  Leontine,  and  ) 
beloved  niece,  Antoniette.        f 

"DEAR  CHILDREN, — At  a  remote  period  from  the 
present  this  letter  is  designed  for  your  sight  and  peru- 
sal when  mature  age  shall  have  become  yours,  and 
when  you  can  properly  understand  and  appreciate 
its  contents,  and  the  motives  governing  its  author. 

"  Ere  the  privilege  of  seeing  this  is  yours,  a  develop- 
ment of  circumstances  by  one,  whom,  doubtless,  you 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  251 

love,  and  who,  unquestionably,  in  his  every  thought 
and  act  reciprocates  the  feeling,  will  have  been  made 
known  to  you  and  to  others  they  concern. 

"  Knowing  the  intentions  of  him,  by  whom  this  will 
be  shown  you,  and  thoroughly  conversant  with  the 
power  and  extent  of  his  eccentric,  it  is  true,  yet 
humane  and  benevolent  disposition,  together  with  the 
purposes  he  has  had,  and  continues  to  have  in  view 
to  effect,  it  is  only  necessary  on  this  occasion  to  add, 
that  the  two  young  ladies  with  whom  you  have  been 
and  are  still  on  terms  of  intimate  friendship  as  the 
Misses  Dierdoffe,  are  in  reality  not  so.  Nor  are  the 
two  young  gentlemen,  now  your  intimate  acquaint- 
ances, in  possession  of  the  knowledge  of  whom  they 
themselves  are ;  but  on  the  contrary,  are  under  names 
not  assumed  by  them,  but  given  them  by  another,  and 
are  both,  as  yet,  ignorant  of  why  it  is  so. 

"The  Misses  Dierdoffe  (so  called)  are  the  grand- 
children of  an  unfortunate  old  man  and  woman,  whose 
ill-fated  history  you  will,  ere  this  time,  have  learned 
something  of.  The  parents  of  those  children  were 
worthy  people,  and  highly  respected  by  all  who  knew 
them.  Their  name  was  'Thurmond,"  and  for  the 
acquirement  of  intellectual  endowment  of  their  now, 
only  surviving  daughters,  and  parental  affection  and 
care  extended  over  them  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dierdoffe 
much  credit  is  due. 

"Of  the  young  men  (twin  brothers)  now  in  our 
family,  their  names  are  'Thomas'  and  'Edmund  Mil- 
ler,' sons  of  the  intelligent  attorney,  but  now  poor 
man,  whose  generosity  and  kindness  were,  in  years 
past,  associated  with  others  in  the  detection  and  over- 
throw of  villany. 


252  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

u  With  a  view  of  cementing  the  friendship  which  I 
hope  still  exists  between  you  and  others  of  whom  I 
have  spoken,  I  have  had  made,  and  which  you  will 
receive  herewith,  four  keepsakes,  alike  in  every  par- 
ticular ;  two  for  yourselves,  the  others  to  be  placed 
by  each  one  of  you  upon  the  fingers  of  the  Misses 
Thurmund. 

"  This  I  have  written,  lest  I  may  never  have  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  my  wishes  in  that  particular  carried 
into  effect ;  and  all  I  shall  further  add  is,  that  I  trust 
the  Supreme  Architect  of  heaven  and  earth  will,  as  he 
has  ever  done,  continue  his  decree,  that  'Virtue, 
though  often  depressed,  shall  continue  to  have  its 
reward !' 

"  I  need  not  give  you  further  proof,  of  what  you 
both  know  well,  that, 

"lam, 

"  Yours  truly, 

"JAMES   WlTHROW." 

During  the  recital  of  Melvin,  and  the  reading  of  the 
letter  which  followed  it,  each  one  of  the  ladies  exhibi- 
ted a  countenance  betokening  much  mental  excite- 
ment, and  for  some  minutes  after  the  name  of  its 
author  had  been  pronounced  a  profound  silence  was 
observed  by  all  present. 

A  knowledge  of  whom  they  really  were ;  a  sense  of 
gratitude  felt  towards  those  by  whose  kindness  they 
had  arrived  at  what  they  then  were  ;  the  obligations 
they  felt  themselves  under  to  the  indirect  though  chief 
cause  of  all  of  it,  and  how  best  to  show  in  the  future 
a  gratitude  acceptable,  brought  to  the  eyes  of  the 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  253 

Misses  Dierdoffe  that  bright  and  significant  talisman 
of  woman's  heart — a  tear. 

Of  those  who  were  gone  they  knew  nothing  save 
what  they  had  just  heard  throngh  two  unquestionably 
correct  sources.  But  for  those  upon  whom  they  had 
so  long  been  accustomed  to  look  in  the  affectionate 
light  of  father  and  mother,  and  at  an  unexpected  mo- 
ment to  know  the  reverse,  much  of  that  purity  of 
affection  with  which  woman  alone  is  peculiarly  en- 
dowed, was  felt  as  expressed  upon  the  occasion ;  nor 
was  the  regard  with  which  they  viewed  Melvin,  over- 
looked. 

Time,  with  its  associate  envelope  of  circumstance, 
often  presents  to  the  mind  things  pleasant  and  things 
painful. 

"  In  the  present,  with  me  and  my  sister,"  said  the 
just  before  Miss  Dierdoffe,  but  now  Miss  Julia  Thur- 
mond, "  there  is  a  feeling  of  both  pleasure  and  pain. 
The  latter,  because  of  the  death  of  those  who  gave  to 
us  life  ;  and  the  former,  because  of  the  means  afforded 
us  to  sustain  it." 

At  that,  she  took  hold  of  the  hand  of  her  sister 
Eliza,  and  both  advancing  to  where  Melvin  was,  she 
continued: 

"  To  your  kindness  and  benevolence,  and  that  at 
the  risk  of  your  own  life,  we  are  indebted  for  having 
had  a  mother ;  that  mother's  children  are  now  before 
you,  to  tender  in  her  name,  and  that  of  their  own, 
our  grateful  thanks." 

Here,  kneeling  before  him,  and  each  taking  a  hand 
of  Melvin  in  their's,  and  imprinting  a  kiss  upon  them, 
Jane  said : 

"  Ingratitude,   kind   sir,  is  the  most  base   of  all 


254  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

crimes,  and  were  we,  on  this  momentous  occasion,  to 
us,  remiss  in  feeling  and  showing  its  opposite,  we 
should  be  no  longer  worthy  of  that  noble  deportment 
with  which  your  past  life  has  been  marked  towards 
us.  In  this  humble  attitude,  therefore,  receive  a 
renewal  of  our  obligations  to  respect  and  esteem 
you." 

As  the  ladies  rose  from  their  position  before  Melvin, 
and  were  advancing  to  where  Dierdoffe  was  seated, 
Mrs.  Dierdoffe  and  Mrs.  Melvin  entered  the  library, 
accompanied  by  "  Dispatch"  and  "  Kightquick." 

"  At  no  moment  of  our  lives,"  continued  Tane,  as 
they  both  threw  their  arms  around  the  person  of 
Mrs.  Dierdoffe,  "  were  we  ever  happier  in  seeing  you 
than  in  the  present  one,  since  it  affords  to  myself  and 
Eliza  an  opportunity  of  renewing  our  pledge  of 
affection  and  obedience.  Foundlings,  in  one  sense  of 
the  word,  at  an  early  age,  we  were,  from  a  decree  of 
the  All  Wise,  thrown  upon  the  cold  charities  of  a  mer- 
ciless world,  to  live,  if  at  all,  amid  the  sneers  and 
indignities  too  often,  as  fatally,  levelled  at  our  sex  by 
the  '  lords  of  creation.'  From  all  that  you  have  saved 
us;  and  from  the  hour  you  became  the  protective 
mother  of  the  orphans,  now  present,  one  continued 
belief  possessed  us,  that  it  was  you  that  gave  us  birth, 
and  upon  whom,  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  we  have 
looked,  honored  and  obeyed,  in  the  conviction,  with 
us,  of  a  beloved  mother." 

Here  the  Misses  Thurmond  took,  each,  a  hand  of 
their  supposed  mother,  and  led  her  to  a  seat  by 
the  side  of  Dierdoffe,  when  Jane,  resuming  her 
remarks,  said : 

"  Those  who  ought  to  be  first  in  the  esteem  of 


THE   HEIHE3SE3   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  255 

children,  are  their  mothers,  and  next  their  fathers; 
therefore  do  not  blame  us  for  the  preference  you 
have  witnessed,  since  it  detracts  nothing  from  the 
honor  in  which  you  are  held.  The  events  of  this 
have  afforded  to  my  sister  and  myself  a  knowledge 
of  whose  we  are ;  but  never  having  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  our  real  ones,  we  are,  as  we  could  have  ever 
been,  of  the  belief  that  your  own  children  would  not 
have  been  more  kindly  treated  than  we  are  by  our 
adopted  father."  . 

Thus  saying,  the  young  ladies  embraced  Dierdoffe, 
and  after  imprinting  a  kiss  upon  his  and  those  of  the 
lips  of  his  wife,  both  seated  themselves-  near  the 
chairs  then  occupied  by  Mrs.  Melvin  and  the  young 
men." 

Ignorant  of  what  had  been,  and  was  still  passing 
in  the  library,  "  Dispatch"  and  "  Kightquick"  sat  in 
silent  astonishment  and  wonder  at  occurrences  so 
unusual  and  entirely  new  to  them ;  and  after  a  short 
interval  of  profound  silence  by  all  in  the  room,  Melvin 
addressing  himself  to  the  young  men,  said  : 

"Judging  from  the  appearance  of  surprise  that 
your  countenances  indicate,  you  are  doubtless  in 
ignorance  of  what  has  taken  place  in  the  library  this 
morning.  It  is  my  duty,  among  other  things  I  shall 
call  your  attention  to  on  this  occasion,  to  tell  you 
that  that  ignorance  has  been  purposely  intended  by 
me  until  the  present  hour ;  not,  however,  from  any 
disrespect  to,  or  want  of  confidence  in  you,  on  my 
own,  or  on  the  part  of  any  in  this  room. 

"  You  have  been  nurtured  and  raised  by  me  from 
your  early  childhood,  without  a  knowledge  of  your 
parents,  or  of  whose  offspring  you  are.  In  your 


256  THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY. 

present  estate  of  maturity,  and  preparation  by  educa- 
tion, good  sense  and  gentlemanly  deportment,  to 
commence  your  parts  upon  the  expansive  stage  of 
life,  you  may  be  somewhat  disposed  to  think  me 
illiberal,  and  perhaps  unjust,  in  not  having  informed 
you,  ere  now,  of  whose  sons  you  are.  Be  this  as  it 
may,  I  have  had  my  own  motives  for  it,  and  which,  I 
think,  in  the  sequel  you  will  not  censure  me  for. 

"  There  is  no  necessity  for  me,"  continued  Melvin, 
"  to  make  many  more  remarks  upon  this  subject,  as 
he  whose  you  are,  will  shortly  confirm  what  I  have 
said.  You  have  lived  in  my  family  long  enough  to 
know  me,  and  one  other,  who,  with  myself,  has 
bestowed  upon  you  parental  care.  And,  as  in  the 
case  of  which  you  are  both  apprized,  and  are,  in  fact, 
both  actors,  you  know  me  eccentric ;  so,  in  like 
manner,  I  have  been  with  regard  to  you." 

Here  Melvin  handed  the  letter,  already  known  to 
my  readers,  to  Dispatch,  saying,  "Both  of  you  read 
that,  and  then  tell  me,  if  you  know  from  it  '  Who  is 
your  father  ?' " 

Another  period  of  profound  silence  was  observed 
throughout  the  room  while  the  young  were  engaged 
reading  the  letter.  •  That  done,  Dispatch  folding  and 
returning  it  to  Melvin,  replied  : 

"  When  such  a  man  as  the  author  of  that  letter 
was,  speaks  of  my  brother  and  myself,  and  others, 
whom  it  concerns,  it  is  done  knowingly  and  for  the 
best  of  motives ;  and  you,  sir,  to  corroborate  the 
statement,  makes  it  doubly  imperative  upon  all 
concerned  to  receive  it.  Taught  to  obey,  to  honor 
and  to  respect  }rou,  we  have  experienced  in  you,  and 
that  lady  (pointing  to  Mrs.  Melvin)  a  father's  and  a 


THE   HEIRE3SE.3   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  257 

mother's  care.  Knowing  no  other  till  now,  in  that 
light,  our  entire  object  has  been  to  deserve  in  order 
to  merit  your  regard.  Our  position  must  now  be 
changed.  In  it  no  digression  shall  ever  be  known  in 
our  deportment  towards  you  or  yours;  while  our 
next  care  shall  be  to  hail  him  who  is  our  father  with 
that  affection  becoming  dutiful  and  obedient  sons." 

Then,  fixing  their  eyes  upon  Miller,  the  two 
brothers  advanced  to  where  he  was,  and  each  taking 
a  hand  of  the  old  gentleman  in  theirs,  Dispatch  again 
said :  "  Receive,  sir,  an  assurance  of  the  happiness  we 
feel  in  knowing  you  to  be  our  father ;  and  the  deter- 
mined intent  on  our  parts  to  love,  to  honor,  to  protect, 
and  to  cherish  you,  in  your  now  advanced  age  and 
decline  of  life." 

For  some  time  a  general  fund  of  social  as  interest- 
ing conversation  followed  the  assertion  of  his  two 
sons  ;  when,  in  reply  to  a  remark  from  Miller,  Melvin, 
giving  to  the  company  a  well-known  signal,  all  was 
again  silent,  and  every  eye  turned  upon  him  who  gave 
it ;  when  Melvin,  addressing  himself  to  the  Misses 
Thurmond,  said: 

"  In  this  box  is  a  copy  of  the  will  of  your  father, 
which  you  can  see  at  any  time.  By  it,  and  the  care  I 
have  taken  of  what  it  speaks  of,  you  will  be  each  in 
possession  of  a  handsome  estate,  and  that  in  the  legal 
currency  of  your  country." 

Then  turning  to  Ellen  and  Susan,  he  continued: 
"  There  is  one  thing  more  remaining  for  your  action ;" 
at  that,  Melvin  handed  to  each  of  them  a  small  casket, 
saying :  "  Do  with  their  contents  what  you  have  been 
directed."  And  in  a  few  moments  after,  four  ele- 

17 


258  THE   HEIRESSES  OF  FOTHEEIXGAY. 

gantly  finished  as  massive  diamond  rings,  were  seen 
on  the  middle  fingers  of  the  left  hand  of  the,  then,  as 
before  and  ever  after,  four  friends. 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

Hope  is  the  companion  of  desire  ;  and  desire  the  incentive  to  action. 

THE  recital  in  the  library  by  Melvin  to  the  respect- 
ive parties  concerned,  had  presented  to  the  minds  of 
some  present  new  ideas,  predicated  upon  former 
events;  and,  as  with  Ellen  and  Susan,  so  it  was  with 
Jane  and  Eliza,  to  settle  upon  and  adopt  such  a  course 
in  the  future  as  would  most  conduce  to  their  happi- 
ness. In  that  particular,  the  last  mentioned  ladies 
had  had  proposals  of  long  standing  by  the  now 
known  Thomas  and  Edmund  Miller.  The  former 
had  asked  for  the  heart  and  hand  of  Jane — the  latter 
that  of  a  like  bestowal  from  Eliza  Thurmond. 

The  increase  of  wealth,  on  the  one  hand,  and  the 
continued  appearance  of  poverty  on  the  other,  with 
the  conviction  that  they  had  now  not  only  his  sister 
(wife  of  Mr.  Murdoch,  the  other  stranger  spoken  of,) 
to  contribute  to  the  support  of,  but  an  aged  father  to 
maintain,  created  an  impression  on  "the  minds  of  the 
young  men,  that,  in  that  quarter,  such  hopes  were  no 
longer  to  be  retained. 

Here  I  shall  leave  for  the  present  the  subject  of  the 
new  parties  brought  before  you,  and  ask,  as  hereto- 


THE   HEIKESSE3   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  259 

fore,  your  permission,  reader,  to  go  with  the  ladies 
and  gentlemen  in  question,  elsewhere. 

It  is  a  rare  occurrence,  in  the  affairs  of  love,  that 
invitations  given  to  those  under  its  influence  are  ever 
wantonly  neglected. 

The  last  account  we  have  had  of  Laurence  and 
Hyne,  was  that  they  were  rather  unsocial,  yet  sys- 
tematic in  the  arrangement  of  time  with  them ;  and, 
from  appearances,  suspicions  of  their  sage  friend, 
Standly. 

The  first  law  of  nature,  self-defence,  had  become  an 
essential  with  them ;  and,  for  that  purpose,  whenever 
Staudly  was  absent,  and  engaged,  as  he  had  been 
seen  frequently  to  be,  with  Melvin,  Urnsden,  Miller, 
and  Murdoch,  they  would  speak  of  and  mature  their 
future  plan  of  proceeding. 

One  snowy  morning,  and  a  few  days  subsequent  to 
the  recent  occurrences  in  the  library,  the  two  young 
gentlemen  were  discovered  to  be  more  genteelly 
dressed  than  had  been  usual  with  them ;  and  while  at 
breakfast,  and  in  the  presence  of  Melvin  and  Standly, 
Laurence  gave  to  Sanco  a  sealed  note,  with  instruc- 
tions for  it  to  be  delivered  that  morning  to  Mrs.  Urns- 
den,  with  a  reply  returned. 

The  contents  of  the  note  were  as  follows : — 

" Mountain  Inn,  8  o'clock  A.  M.,  Jan.  10th,  1802. 
"  MADAM — 

"  The  civilities  shown  to  the  strangers  whose  names 
are  hereunto  attached,  are  among  the  many  incidents, 
of  kindness  extended  by  yours  to  that  of  our  sex. 

"  Here,  alone,  and  far  from  that  circle  of  society  to 
which  we  have  been  accustomed,  we  are  desirous  (if 


260  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHER1NGAY. 

agreeable)   of  paying   our  respects,   in  person,   this 
morning,  to  the  ladies  of  Mr.  Urnsden's  family. 
"  Very  respectfully, 

"  GEORGE  LAURENCE, 
"  SAMUEL  HYNE. 
"To  Mrs.  Urnsden." 

"Something  is  afloat,"  said  Melvin  to  Standly,  as 
the  young  men  left  the  room.  "  We  must  see  to  it, 
and  whatever  it  may  be,  it  must  pass  our  inspection 
before  it  effects  what  it  is  intended  for." 

Just  as  Melvin  had  finished  his  remark,  Sanco  was 
passing  through  the  dining-room,  on  his  way  to  execute 
the  order  received. 

"Let  rne  see  the  direction  of  that  note,  Sanco,"  said 
Melvin."  Upon  looking  at  it  for  a  moment,  with  an 
appearance  of  intense  thought,  and  returning  the  note 
to  the  servant,  Melvin  continued,  "It  is  all  right; 
Edmund  and  Thomas  are  there.  Now  let  us  go  into 
your  room  and  wait  the  issue  of  the  reply."  They  did 
so  ;  and  in  the  next  half  hour  Sanco  returned. 

"  Well,  Sanco,"  said  Laurence,  "  what  news  have 
you?" 

"  This  note,"  handing  it  as  he  spoke,  "  will  tell  you, 
sir,"  replied  Sanco. 

Not  a  word  had  passed  between  either  of  the  gentle- 
men after  Standly  and  Melvin  had  entered  the  room ; 
and  Laurence  opening  the  note,  he  and  Hyne  read  to 
themselves,  the  following  reply  to  theirs. 

"Mansion,  Tuesday,  9  o'clock,  A.  M.,  Jan.  10,  1802. 
"  GENTLEMEN, — Your  polite  note  of  this  inst.,  to  Mrs. 
Urnsden,  I  have  been  directed  to  answer,  and  that  in 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF  FOTHERES'GAY.  261 

accordance  with  my  own,  and  feelings  of  others  of 
your  recent  acquaintances  here. 

"  You  speak  of  loneliness,  and  a  want  of  that  circle 
of  society,  now  far  from  you,  in  which  you  have  been 
-accustomed  to  move.  Of  the  kindness,  in  general, 
extended  to  yours,  by  that  of  our  sex,  and  particularly 
of  the  civilities  shown  to  you  by  us  at  this  '  house.' 
Here  you  are  complimentary ;  but  no  more  so,  it  is 
believed,  than  you  are  earnest  in  the  statement  of. 

"If  you  think  the  society  among  these  mountains, 
and  particularly,  that  the  members  of  this  family  can 
contribute  to  your  amusement,  your  pleasure,  or  your 
happiness,  the  doors  of  the  '  Urnsden  Mansion'  will 
ever  be  open  to  receive  you;  and  as  an  earnest  of 
what  is  here  written  by  the  deaf  and  dumb,  we  will 
expect  you  to  dine  with  us  to-day. 

"  Eespectfully, 

"  ELLEN." 
"To  Messrs.  Laurence  and  Hyne,  Mountain  Inn." 

Having  in  their  possession  a  guarantee  of  their  wel- 
comed appearance  at  the  "  mansion,"  Laurence  and 
Hyne,  were,  in  the  next  moment,  putting  on  their 
cloaks  for  departure,  when  Standly  said  to  them : 
"  where  are  you  going  such  weather  as  this  ?" 

"  In  pursuit  of  that  which  concerns  us  alone,  and 
without  the  least  regard  to  the  advice  or  opinions  of 
any  who  have,  or  may  ask  any  questions  of  us  about 
our  movements,"  replied  Laurence.  Here  giving 
Standly  a  reproachful  look,  they  were  out  of  their 
room,  and  on  their  way  to  the  "  mansion." 

Their  reception  at  the  mansion,  on  that  occasion, 
was  marked  by  a  course  of  politeness  and  civility, 


262  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

bordering  upon  a  sort  of  sociability  peculiar  to  that 
practiced  among  long  known  friends. 

As  Melvin  had  before  said,  "Edmund  and  Thomas 
Miller  were  there,"  and  from  whom  such  an  obser- 
vance of  attention  was  shown  as  to  greatly  facilitate 
the,  then,  intentions  of  Laurence  and  Hyne.  For 
each  one  of  the  four  gentlemen  having  particular 
objects  in  view,  they  were  by  no  means  in  the  way  of 
each  other.  And,  here  it  is  only  necessary  to  add,  that 
each  having  his  own  business  to  attend  to,  my  lady 
and  gentlemen  readers  can,  from  similar  experience, 
^  infer  what  it  was.  "  Why,"  I  think  I  hear  you  say, 
"a  declaration  of  love  by  our  Eastern  friends — and  a 
prosecution  of  former  proposals,  by  the  two  young 
Millers."  You  are  right  my  readers,  and  I  shall  do 
you  the  credit  to  say  :  "  you  have  guessed  well !" 

The  taken  for  natural  impediments  of  Ellen  and 
Jane  were  well  guarded  by  them ;  while  with  a 
graceful  ease  of  manners  and  suavity  of  countenance 
peculiarly  theirs,  the  hours  of  that  day  passed  in  an 
uninterrupted  round  of  pleasure.  At  the  dinner  hour, 
Urnsden  was  more  the  gentleman  than  heretofore 
shown,  and  ere  the  sun  had  withdrawn  his  light  from 
the  horizon,  our  travellers  had  ceased  to  think  upon 
the  loss  of  pleasure  found  in  the  circles  of  eastern 
society,  and  thought  themselves  particularly  happy  in 
the  rays  reflected  upon  them  from  western  lights. 

It  was  not  with  Laurence  and  Hyne  as  it  was  with 
the  young  Millers ;  for,  upon  that  day,  their  cases 
were  decided  by  the  fair  judges  before  whom  they 
had  long  since  preferred  their  claims. 

The  works  of  Melvin  had  arrived  at  the  crisis  desired. 
His  renowned  forethought  upon  the  principles  of 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  263 

philanthropy  and  benevolence  had,  thus  far,  terminatd 
as  wished  for  and  intended.  And  the  virtuous  sons 
of  the  learned,  the  worthy,  yet  poor  attorney,  were  to 
be  the  husbands  of  the  Misses  Thurmund. 

Towards  evening  of  that  day,  a  cold  north  wind 
had  begun  its  course  through  the  mountains,  and 
over  a  deep  snow  that  had  fallen  the  previous  night. 

After  tea,  Jane  and  Eliza  were  reminded  of  their 
promise  given  at  the  dinner  already  noticed ;  and  in 
a  few  moments  after,  Jane  was  seated  at  the  piano- 
forte. 

At  that  time  Boreas  had  become  more  than  usually 
boisterous  without,  and  the  shrill  whistle  of  his  sub- 
ordinates, that  were  heard  as  they  passed  around  the 
cornice  of  the  "  Mansion,"  brought  to  the  recollection 
of  the  ladies  an  event  heretofore  spoken  of. 

Then,  turning  over  some  leaves  of  a  music  book 
before  her,  and  at  the  time  giving  a  side  glance  to 
Ellen  and  Susan,  then  standing  with  Laurence  and 
Hyne  in  the  group,  Jane  requested  her  sister  to 
accompany  her  on  the  guitar,  and  Edmund  to  assist 
them  on  the  piano. 

All  present,  except  our  travellers,  understood  the 
course  of  that  move  and  soon  the  "Wind  of  the 
Winter  Night,"  was  again  sung  and  played. 

Much  of  that  kind  of  composure  and  pleasant  look, 
usual  upon  the  countenance  in  things  pleasing  in  the 
retrospect  and  present,  was  plainly  perceivable  in 
Laurence  and  Hyne,  during  the  performance.  And 
when  through  with,  a  simultaneous  as  courteous  tender 
of  their  thanks  for  the  favor  as  unexpected,  as  un- 
locked for  offered  them,  with  which  to  recall  pleasant 


264  THE   HEIKESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

reminisences  were  instantly  given  to  the  young  ladies 
and  to  Miller. 

A  like  round  of  the  social  and  agreeable  in  rapid 
succession  upon  various  topics  ensued  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  evening ;  and  at  near  twelve  o'clock 
our  young  travellers  retraced  their  steps  towards  the 
Mountain  Inn. 

All  was  stillness  there,  and  no  one  was  yet  up — 
save  the,  though  obsequious  Sanco — who  as  soon  as 
the  young  gentlemen  entered  their  room,  said : — 

"  Young  masters,  I  knew  you  were  out  seeing  the 
young  ladies  at  the  mansion — and  thinking  that — • 
though  you  have  warm  hearts — your  feet  might  be 
cold  when  you  came  in,  for  that  reason  I  have  kept  a 
large  fire  burning,  and  your  room  warm." 

"  You  have  been  quite  considerate,  Sanco,"  replied 
Laurence,  "and  before  we  leave  the  mountains,  we 
will  reward  you  for  your  attentions  upon  us." 

"All  will  be  right  with  you,  young  masters,  before 
then,"  replied  Sanco,  smiling,  as  he  spoke.  Then 
getting  a  boot -jack,  and  drawing  off  their  boots,  he 
continued : — 

"  Pleasant  dreams  attend  you,  my  masters." 

Before  a  reply  could  be  made  to  his  last  remark, 
Sanco  had  left  their  room,  closing  the  door  after  him. 

"  I  wonder  what  that  fellow  can  mean  by  his  fre- 
quent inuenclo  expressions?"  said  Laurence. 

"Whatever  it  may  be,  he  is  as  precautious  and 
guarded  in  them  as  old  Melvin  is  mysterious  in  his 
movements,  aided  by  that  singular  genius,  Urnsden," 
replied  Hyne. 

"  It  appears  to  me,"  resumed  Laurence,  "  to  be  out 
of  the  order  of  refinement  and  taste,  such  as  we  have 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  265 

witnessed  to-day,  that  such  animals  as  those  two  men 
are,  should  have  raised  children  possessing  the  refine- 
ment found  in  the  young  ladies  of  that  house." 

"  So  much  the  better  for  us,"  replied  Hyne,  "  for, 
if  we  should  be  fortunate  in  the  success  of  our  declara- 
tions of  to-day,  we  will  return  to  New  York  in  posses- 
sion of  a  display  of  refinement,  beauty  and  manners, 
inferior  to  none  in  that  or  any  other  city." 

"ENTIRELY  TAMED,  AND  SUBMISSIVE  NOW,"  said 
Standly,  turning  over  in  his  bed,  and  where  he  was 
supposed  to  have  been  in  a  profound  sleep.  To  his 
remarks,  the  young  men  made  no  reply:  making 
silence  the  confession  of  judgment,  and  thereby  ratify- 
ing the  truth  of  what  Standly  had  said ;  and  in  a  few 
moments  they  retired  to  bed,  where  Morpheus  long 
hesitated  to  supply  them  with  an  attendant. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

When  the  mind  is  most  at  rest,  then  it  is  that  we  are  most  happy  in  the 
affairs  of  life  ;  and  it  is  only  in  the  reverse  of  all  that,  that  proves 
whether  we  are  or  are  not  men. 

HAVING  launched  their  mental  bark  of  hope  upon 
the  calm  surface  of  the  (as  it  were)  sea  of  expectation, 
our  young  travellers  were  easy  for  the  time  being. 

Answers  to  the  preferment  of  their  suits  were  sus- 
pended, for  want  of  further  consideration  upon  (as 
the  ladies  expressed  it)  a  subject  too  newly  for  their 
immediate  decision.  Hence  the  gentlemen  thought 
of  nothing,  and  spoke  of  nothing,  but  what  love,  in 


266  THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERIXGAY. 

its  variety  of  pleasures,  presents  to  the  mind.  My 
readers,  of  both  sexes,  know  what  they  are,  and  that 
truth  saves  me  the  time  as  well  as  space  necessary  in 
the  description  of  them. 

Whole  days,  and  frequently  half  of  almost  every 
night  were  spent  at  the  mansion ;  so  that,  in  fact,  few 
if  any  preventives  to  conference  were  thrown  between 
Standly  and  his  favorite  companions  of  the  con- 
federacy. 

Melvin,  Urnsden,  Miller  and  Murdock  were  those 
with  whom  the  latter  traveller  from  the  East  spent  the 
chief  portion  of  his  time,  while  the  junior  two  of  the 
three,  were,  if  not  with  the  ladies,  passing  their  time 
at  their  favorite  project  (though  unknown  to)  for  the 
inspection  and  acceptance  of  the  ladies — a  miniature 
painting  of  each. 

However  communicative  against,  and  treacherous 
Standly  might  appear  to  his  young  friends,  he  had 
kept  inviolate  the  knowledge  of  their  purpose ;  and 
from  the  hour  the  ladies  had  been  first  seen,  on  the 
morning  of  the  deer  hunt,  till  then,  no  intimation,  let 
alone  a  disclosure,  had  been  given  relative  to  the 
miniatures,  a  knowledge  of  which  for  the  first  time  is 
brought  before  us. 

Acute  observation,  and  memory  in  its  entire 
strength,  where  the  only  means  at  that  time,  within 
the  reach  of  Laurence  and  Hyne,  by  which  to  assist 
their  mind's  ocular  in  placing  upon  ivory,  with  an 
ease  of  resemblance  to  life  itself,  those  by  whom  they 
were  (using  the  words  of  Standly)  "caught  at  last," 
and  towards  whom,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  other 
gentlemen  overly  vain  in  self-esteem,  they  had  already 
began,  as  is  plainly  seen,  "  a  recantation." 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERINGAY.  267 

No  word,  no  act,  or  no  obstruction  of  any  kind 
whatever,  were  known  as  intruders  upon  the  pleasures 
that  now  surrounded  our  two  friends.  The  centre  of 
gravity  to  their  every  thought  was  now  daily  seen, 
and  in  the  ways  heretofore  spoken  of,  conversed  with 
by  them. 

In  that  course  of  allurement  and  delusion  their 
hours  and  days  passed,  till  nearly  the  period  in  which 
they  had  expressed  a  wish  to  know  the  final  result  of 
that  to  which  they  had  aspired. 

In  their  attention  to  the  ladies  nothing  had  re- 
mained undone,  as  they  supposed,  calculated  to  mar 
an  answer  favorable ;  and  under  such  impressions  the 
young  gentlemen  had  twice  adverted  to  their  decla- 
ration. 

Allied  to  one  another  by  the  strongest  ties  of 
friendship,  and  the  sincerely  wished  for  success  of 
each,  our  young  gentlemen  had  gone  as  far  in  the 
respective  spheres  of  familiar,  yet  profoundly  respect- 
ful interviews,  had  with  the  ladies,  upon  the  known 
intentions,  of  both,  as  to  exercise  no  secrecy  with 
regard  to  their  movements.  So  that,  in  fact,  what- 
ever one  knew  the  other  was  then,  or  soon  after 
apprized  of. 

The  reasons  for  that  course  were  predicated  upon 
the  fact  that  frequently  in  their  interviews  with  the 
ladies,  and  the  manner  in  which  they  were  compelled 
to  convey  their  ideas,  recourse  was  had  to  the  note- 
books already  spoken  of.  So  that,  in  that  particular, 
differing  materially  from  the  practice  of  both  sexes, 
endowed  with  the  faculties  of  speech,  with  the  privi- 
lege of  using  them ;  their  respective  courtships  were 
conducted  in  a  sort  of  harmony  and  mutual  confidence 


268  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

not  very  often,  if  at  all,  practised  in  the  present  day, 
by  any  who  may  read  the  account  of  so  singular  a 
courtship  as  was  that  now  being  described. 

To  the  proposed  mode  of  procedure  the  ladies 
assented,  and  in  that  state  of  affairs,  our  two  friends 
had  began  to  think  all  was  as  they  thought  it 
should  be. 

Their  hopes  in  love  went  on, 
Ever  pure,  as  begun  ; 
From  early  dawn  to  setting  sun, 
Till  each  two  in  four,  were  one. 

Even  so,  reader !  and  had  their,  then,  condition 
have  been  similar  with  either  one  or  more  of  you, 
doubtless  it  would  have  had,  and  has  now  (for  aught 
I  know)  a  like  appearance  in  your  estimation.  But 
the  time  is  not  yet  at  hand  when  those  pleasant  and 
wished  for  events  may  be  brought  about  (if  ever) 
between  the  heroines  and  heroes  of  the  work  now  in 
your  hands. 

It  has  been  said,  on  a  former  occasion,  in  this 
attempt  to  amuse  you,  and  by  a  lady  whose  good 
sense  was  derived  from  reading,  observation  and 
experience,  commenting  upon  matters  such  as  are 
now  before  you  (Mrs.  Rayford).  "  That  a  reciprocal 
feeling  of  love  and  duty  is  a  republic  in  miniature." 
If  this  be  true,  which  I  shall  leave  to  the  opinions  of 
those  who  have,  or  may  hereafter  become  practitioners 
in  such  matters,  I  shall  here  only  add,  that  Laurence 
and  Hyne  were  each  laboring  hard  to  establish  a 
similar  government,  and  that,  ere  long,  we  shall  see 
how  their  efforts  terminated,  so  far.  at  least,  as  their 
individual  interests  were  concerned. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OP   FOTHERINGAY.  269 

If  love  should  continue  as  first  represented, 
What  a  mass  of  misfortune  would  be  removed ; 
And  thousands  be  ever  contented 
In  the  choice  they  had  made  of  their  love. 

I  have  often  wondered  at  the  discords  to  which  the 
lines  just  penned  have  reference,  and  regret  to  say, 
that,  even  the  gentlemen  now  before  us  in  their 
"  love's  young  dream,"  were  tinctured  with  a  want  of 
confidence  in  those  who  they  were  at  that  time  I  am 
speaking  of,  so  desirous  of  making  their  own. 

Jealousy,  that  bane  to  every  source  of  true  happi- 
ness, and  fatal  destroyer  of  every  gem  of  woman's 
affection  lay  lurking  in  the,  as  yet,  smooth  and 
pleasant  pathway  of  our  young  gentlemen. 

The  day  previous  to  that  one  on  which  a  refusal  or 
acceptance  of  the  offers  made  them  were  to  be  made 
known  in  adverting  to  the  subject— tthe  ladies  claimed 
the  right  of  interrogation ;  and,  that  the  questions  put 
and  answers  returned  to  them,  should  be  unequivo- 
cating  and  definite.  To  be  transcribed  from  the  note- 
books into  two  others  prepared  for  that  purpose,  and 
that  the  parties  to  each  respective  agreement,  in  the 
event  of  a  promise  of  marriage,  should  sign  their 
names  thereto,  to  be  kept  as  a  memento  and  guide  to 
their  deportment  toward  one  another  in  future  years. 

To  the  proposal  of  the  ladies,  the  gentlemen  replied, 
"that  as  the  events  of  the  following  day  would  be 
momentous  to  them,  they  desired  to  defer  their  assent 
to,  or  refusal  of  the  plan  proposed,  till  the  next  morn- 
ing." 

The  proposition  of  the  gentlemen  was  agreed  to, 
and  soon  after  an  adjournment  ensued,  to  meet  the 


270  THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERIXGAY. 

next  day  at  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  in  (where  the  young 
travellers  had  never  as  yet  been)  the  library. 

"  Those  ladies  entertain  a  high  sense  of  the  import- 
ance of  the  obligation,  and  the  necessity  there  is  in 
their  opinion,  of  keeping  inviolate  the  promise  and 
pledge  of  marriage  in  the  exercise  of  love  and  con- 
stancy," said  Laurence,  as  they  were  on  their  return 
to  the  Inn — "  and,"  continued  he,  "  how  shall  we  act  in 
that  part  of  their  opinions  referred  to,  and  awaiting 
our  answer  ?" 

'  "  I  know  of  no  other  better  plan  to  arrive  at  what 
we  should  do,  than  to  refer  the  whole  matter  to  the 
opinion  and  judgment  of  Mr.  Standly,"  replied  Hyne. 

"Ah,  true  enough,  but  what  if  he  is,  as  we  have 
thought  him  to  be, — treacherous — how  then?"  replied 
the  other. 

"  Why  then  we  can  solve  him — and  if  he  is  so, — can 
trust  him  no  further,"  replied  Hyne. 

Of  one  opinion,  and  having  agreed  upon  their  pur- 
pose, the  two  friends  shortly  after  arrived  at  the  Inn. 

For  several  days  before  the  one  present,  the  young 
gentleman  had  been  upon  their  high  horses,  or  in  other 
words,  indifferent  and  rather  disrespectful  towards 
Standly.  An  occurrence  too  often  and  shamefully  the 
case  in  youth  towards  their  seniors  in  age  and  experi- 
ence. But  of  that  they  had  thought  better,  and  at  their 
earliest  opportunity  disclosed  the  subject  of  which  they 
had  been  speaking  to  him.  Standly  listened  with 
attention  to  the  disclosure  of  the  position  in  which 
they  were  placed.  At  the  end  of  their  remarks  upon 
it,  one  said,  "  What,  sir,  were  it  your  case,  as  it  is  oars, 
would  you  do?  and  what  would  you  advise  us  to  do  ?" 

"Gentlemen,"  replied  Standly,  "  the  Most  High  can 


THE   HEIEE3SES   OF  FOTHEKINGAY.  271 

not  err,  and  among  the  invaluable  of  his  gifts  to  man 
are  those  of  the  virtuous  fair  of  creation.  They  are 
those,  to  whom  the  love  and  practice  of  that  intrinsic 
GEM,  insures  respect,  and  from  whom  a  reflection  of 
dignity  emanates,  that  ever  keeps  man  in  his  proper 
bounds." 

"Were  I  in  your  places  and  desirous  of  a  wife, 
what  I  have  just  said  would  be  my  first  object ;  the 
next  would  be  INTELLIGENCE,  for  where  it  exists  there 
is  a  guarantee  of  DISCRETION,  it  leads  to  CALMNESS  ; 

CALMNESS   to   RESPECT  ;    RESPECT  to  love  and  to  DUTY, 

and  duty  to  an  accumulation  and  continuance  of  HAP- 
PINESS, braced  by  an  united  exertion  of  the  parties 
concerned  to  maintain  such  alliances.  WEALTH,"  con- 
tinued Standly,  "is  an  ENTIRELY  incidental  appendage ; 
not  necessary  to  TRUE  HAPPINESS,  but  a  convenience 
thereto ;  which  when  properly  used  adds  comfort,  and 
to  the  reverse — A  CURSE. 

"  What  I  have  said  is  applicable  to  both  sexes — The 
ladies  of  whom  you  have  spoken,  are,  from  what  I  can 
hear,  possessed  of  the  qualities  to  which  your  attention 
has  been  drawn,  and,"  continued  he,  "they  will  not,  I 
presume,  exact  any  thing  more  from  you  than  a  high 
sense  of  the  importance  attached  to  marriage  (should 
they  accept  your  offers)  warrants  them  in  requiring." 

The  graphic  as  laconic  remarks  of  Standly  were 
properly  understood  and  appreciated  by  his  young 
companions ;  and  the  next  day  at  the  appointed  hour 
they  were  at  the  "  mansion.'11 

In  a  few  minutes  after  they  had  entered  the  parlor, 
a  servant  conducted  them  to  the  library,  saying,  "Gen- 
tlemen, the  ladies  directed  me  to  inform  you  that  they 
would  be  in  the  library  in  a  few  moments. 


272  THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

The  first  object  that  attracted  the  attention  of  Lau- 
rence and  Hyne  there,  was  an  old  man,  shabbily 
dressed,  and  exhibiting  a  countenance  expressive  of 
sorrow ;  and  an  eye,  that  at  one  time  had  been  the 
talisman  of  a  well-balanced,  but  then,  wrecked  and 
ruined  intellect.  He  was  seated  at  the  table  upon 
which  had  been  placed  pens,  ink,  and  paper.  Here 
he  held  in  one  hand  a  volume  of  the  "  British  Classics," 
while  with  the  other  he  was  turning  over  and  looking 
intently  as  he  did  so,  at  the  spots  on  each  one  of  the 
cards,  that  lay  in  a  deck  upon  a  table,  and  within  his 
reach. 

The  gentlemen  had  scarcely  taken  seats,  before  the 
objects  of  their  wishes  entered  the  apartment. 

Presenting  to  the  gentlemen  their  note  books,  upon 
a  leaf  of  which  was  contained  the  usual  etiquette  of 
the  morning :  it  was  promptly  returned,  and  soon  after, 
the  business  of  the  day  before  was  resumed. 

In  reply  to  a  few  remarks  having  reference  and 
leading  to  the  purpose  intended  ;  the  right  of  interro- 
gation was  ceded  to  the  ladies.  Whereupon  they  pre- 
sented their  note-books, — one  to  each  of  the  gentlemen, 
for  his  perusal.  Each  book  contained  its  exact  copy 
of  the  other ;  and  the  language,  style,  and  contents  of 
them  were  as  follows : 

"  The  importance  attached  to  marriage,  and  the 
consequences  resulting  from  it,  are  obligations  so 
little  thought  of  by  many  who  become  so,  that  if  ever 
such  a  position  is  my  estate,  him  to  whom  I  may  be- 
come a  wife  must,  before  that  event  takes  place,  and 
where  self-government  in  my  sex  terminates,  answer 
with  that  sincerity  and  truth  similar  in  their  weight 
of  influence  to  his  opinions  entertained  of  me,  as  his 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTHERINGAY.  273 

desired  companion  for  life,  the  following  interroga- 
tories : 

"  1st.  Do  you  believe  in  a  Supremacy  and  first  cause 
as  the  Divine  Author  of  all  things  ? 

"  2d.  Do  you  believe  in  love,  adoration,  accounta- 
bility and  obedience  to  that  Supremacy? 

"  3d.  Do  you  believe  intelligence,  virtue,  love,  con- 
stancy and  a  deference  to  the  opinions  of  each  in 
parents,  indispensable  requisites  to  keep  firm  and 
unchanged  the  alliance  of  marriage  ?  . 

"  4th.  Is  jealousy  a  predominant  feature  of  your 
nature,  and  if  so,  have  you  self-possession  and  coolness 
of  deliberation  sufficient  to  attempt  the  immediate 
check  to  its  incentive,  and  even  then  to  reluctantly, 
if  at  all,  become  its  convert  ? 

"  5.  Are  you  vain  in  self  opinion?  and  if  so,  have 
you  carried  it  into  such  extremes  as  to  have  thought 
my  sex  inferior  to  yours,  by  any  undue  as  ungentle- 
manly  remarks  of,  or  relative  to  them  ? 

"  6th.  Are  you  of  the  belief  that  temperance,  indus- 
try and  economy,  are  necessary  to  happiness  in  mar- 
ried life  ?  and  if  so,  will  you  sustain  such  belief  by  a 
moderate  use  of  the  'good  things,'  of  life — thereby 
supporting  the  dignity  of  a  gentleman,  title  of  hus- 
band, honor  of  father,  and  the  pleasure  of  being,  so 
far  as  it  may  be  in  your  power,  without  detriment  to 
yourself  and  family,  the  friend  of  the  unfortunate,  in 
distress;  judging  your  fellow  beings  more  from  inter- 
nal than  external  appearances?  :?Vf: 

"  7th.  Are  your  inclinations  such  as  to  induce  a 
preference  of  home  to  that  an  abroad? 

"  8.  Could  you  place  a  firm  reliance  upon  the  word 
of  your  wife;  and  if  so,  not  trammel  h^r  to  restraint, 
1  ? 


\ 
27-i  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

but  rely  upon  the  correctness  of  her  judgment  and 
actions  in  the  occurrences  incident  to  life? 

"  9.  Could  you  be  slow  to  anger,  and  if  necessary 
to  be  shown,  qualify  it  by  that  sort  of  rebuke  peculiar 
to  the  sensible  man,  affectionate  husband,  and  kind 
father  ? 

"  10th.  Is  your  intellect  so  contracted,  as  in  your 
views  upon  the  works  of  Deity,  to  make  disrespectful 
as  un gentlemanly  remarks  of  the  personal  defects  of 
your  fellow-beings  ?" 

Much  of  that  carefulness  and  attention  shown  in 
men  upon  affairs  commanding  strict  notice  was  ex- 
hibited in  reading  the  ten  questions  propounded  for 
their  consideration  and  reply  to ;  and  after  reading 
them  a  second  time,  those  for  whose  eye  and  conclu- 
sion they  were  intended,  were  for  some  time  silent. 

From  the  time  the  books  had  been  presented  to  that 
of  the  end  of  the  reflective  mood  produced  in  the 
minds  of  Laurence  and  Hyne,  the  ladies  were  occu- 
pied in  a  mere  semblance  at  reading  a  couple  of  books 
they  had  taken  up  ;  which  pretext  for  an  earnest,  they 
used  as  a  kind  of  moving  screen,  propelled  from  the 
impulse  of  necessity ;  and  watching  the  effect  that 
written  application  upon  further  designs  might  have 
upon  the  minds  of  their  lovers. 

After  about  ten  minutes  spent  in  the  way  just 
spoken  of,  and  for  the  first  time  done  by  either  of 
them,  Laurence  and  Hyne  began  a  conversation  be- 
tween themselves,  and  in  tones  usual  in  ordinary 
speech,  upon  the  now  straight-lined  condition  of  their 
favorite  pursuit — matrimony — and  what  to  do,  in 
order  to  become  possessed  of  the  objects  of  their 
choice  and  preference. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  275 

At  length  they  found  themselves  each  of  a  like 
opinion  and  of  a  like  sentiment,  upon  the  questions 
proposed,  and  that,  in  them,  they  knew  of  no  difficulty 
in  passing  an  acceptance  favorable  to  their  desire,  but 
in  one  solitary  instance. 

Here  the  gentlemen  wrote  to  each  lady  on  separate 
pieces  of  paper  taken  from  the  table  the  following 
alike  notes,  with  the  exception  of  the  signatures 
attached. 

"  Your  singular  and  justifiable  requirements  have 
been  read  and  duly  considered  by  me.  They  are  ex 
pressive  of  your  good  sense  and  earnest  judgment,  and 
the  importance  with  which  you  view  the  present  as 
future  of  married  estates ;  at  the  same  time  that  they 
are,  perhaps,  unparalleled  in  any  alliances  between 
yours  and  my  sex. 

"  With  me  there  is  but  one  thing  in  the  entire  of 
your  requirements,  that  I  fear  will  not  pass  your  scru- 
tiny of  acceptance,  and  that  is,  the  fifth  number  of 
your  interrogatories. 

"Of  that  offence  it  becomes  me  to  plead  guilty;  to 
repent  its  absurdity,  recant  such  ideas,  for  the  future, 
applied  to  your  sex ;  to  ask  a  forgiveness  of  such  of- 
fonce  from  you,  and  in  the  bitter  exercise  and  union 
of  whatever  amount  of  good  sense  I  may  be  possessed 
of,  claim  the  pleasure  and  happiness  of  calling  and 
knowing  you  mine  as  long  as  we  both  shall  live." 

To  each  one  of  those  notes  the  gentlemen  affixed 
their  names,  and  a  little  time  subsequent  to  their  pre- 
sentment, two  notes  alike  in  contents  and  in  answer 
to  those  already  seen,  were  presented  to  the  gentle- 
men, in  language  and  style  as  follows: 

"  It  is  a  source  of  much  pleasure  to  me  to  see  your 


276  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

frank,  open,  and  gentlemanly  acknowledgment  of 
error,  and  earnest  with  which  you  recant  the  further 
continuance  of  it. 

"  All  are  not  alike  in  beauty  and  external  appear- 
ances, and  where  this  is  apparent,  there  may  be  its 
equivalent  among  the  homely  featured  of  creation. 
And  such,  too,  as  the  want  of,  are  regretted  as  envied 
by  the  most  beautiful. 

"  Doubtless  you  understand  my  meaning,  and  to 
what  class  of  possessions  I  have  reference — a  culti- 
vated mind.  Its  owner  has  an  interior  wealth,  and 
the  heart  being  as  it  should,  there  emanates  from  it 
rays  of  light  ever  brilliant  till  its  last  pulse  bids  to  it 
an  adieu. 

"I  shall  be  candid  with  you,  as  you  have  been 
with  me ;  and  in  regard  to  that  of  which  you  speak 
doubtingly,  know  by  this,  and  from  me,  that  that  of 
which  you  speak  as  an  impassible  barrier  to  your 
wishes,  is  thought  of  as  such  no  longer;  and  that  the 
repudiation  of  it,  among  other  virtues  I  hope  you 
possess,  are'  the  causes  why  I  now  consent  to  be 
yours  till  (using  an  idea  derived  from  one  of  yours) 
life  with  me  shall  be  no  more." 

That  which  may  be  thought  singular  in  the  estima- 
tion of  my  readers,  the  courtship  and  engagement  of 
Laurence  and  Hyne  to  Ellen  and  Susan,  was  con- 
ducted and  concluded  as  the  .two  latter  determined  it 
should  be.  And  now,  under  that  engagement,  and  in 
that  kind  of  humor  towards  one  another  that  I  think 
those  who  are  so  ought  to  be  in,  I  shall  go  with  them 
somewhere  else,  by  your  permission  and  indulgence. 


THE    HEIKESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  277 


CHAPTEB    XXXVI. 


Villany  may  be  for  a  time  triumphant:  but,  like  the  influence  of 
beams  upon  fog,  dissolves  into  nonentity  before  integrity  and  hon 


sun- 
ire  integrity  and  honor. 


SOMETIMES,  when  most  flattered  with  renewed 
hope,  we  are  most  in  danger;  and  that  which  appears 
brilliant  as  the  noonday  sun  at  his  meridian  height, 
is  often  turned  into  a  sadness  and  gloom  dark  and 
dreary  as  the  tempestuous  midnight  hour  is  to  the 
wrecked  mariner  at  sea,  on  the  fragment  of  a  shattered 
mast. 

As  is  natural  in  such  cases  as  those  of  which  we 
have  been  speaking,  and  particularly  in  that  moun- 
tainous country,  where  they  knew  but  few,  and 
among  that  few  the  objects  of  their  now  principal 
attention,  our  young  travellers  were  offcener  at  the 
mansion  than  they  Would  have  probably  been,  could 
they  have  been  aware  of  its  consequences.  But,  as  it 
is  said,  "love  is  blind,"  we  may  excuse  Laurence  for 
being  thus  attentive  to  his  intended  Ellen,  and  make 
a  like  allowance  for  Hyne  in  his  devotions  to  his  in- 
tended Susan. 

"  What  say  reader?"  I  think  I  hear  you  say  "Yes;" 
and  under  that  impression  will  proceed. 

On  one  occasion,  and  not  many  days  subsequent  to 
their  engagement  and  pledge  of  constancy,  our  gentle- 
men presented  to  their  respective  fair  the  miniatures 
spoken  of.  They  had  been  taken  in  the  costumes  in 
which  the  originals  were  first  beheld,  and  with  regard 


278  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

to  resemblance  of  feature  and  expression,  nothing, 
upon  their  presentation  was  considered  wanting  in 
the  effect  of  a  true  likeness  to  each. 

After  a  few  moments  spent  by  the  ladies  in  looking 
intently  at  the  paintings,  and  in  a  reply  to  a  written 
question  of  "  Will  you  keep  this  token  of  my  affec- 
tion for  you  till  our  arrival  in  New  York,  where  I 
shall  have  it  set  as  you  direct?"  the  ladies  severally 
said,  "  Upon  your  request  rests  a  contingency ;  and  be 
the  reasons  surprising  and  disagreeable  as  they  may, 
I  owe  it  to  your  candor,  frankness,  and  undoubted 
esteem,  to  inform  you  of  the  difficulties  with  which 
I  am  surrounded ;  and  of  which,  as  yet  you  know 
nothing,  and  that  may  be  the  destruction  of  that  hope 
entertained  at  becoming  yours,  in  possession  as  I  am 
in  sentiment  and  in  feelings." 

The  like  expression  from  both  ladies  startled  their 
admirers,  and  for  some  time  they  were  mute  as  those 
in  whose  presence  they  were. 

To  the  gentlemen  —  Love  was  threatened  with  a 
forced  abdication ;  and  his  prime  minister,  Hope, 
seemed  to  have  lost  his  imperial  prerogative  of  ad- 
ministration; while  in  the  present  and  in  the  distant 
was  seen — Despair  and  all  his  retinue  of  mishaps  wait- 
ing to  assume  the  sovereignty  of  Disappointment. 

The  then  impressive  thought  upon  officiates  of  that 
thronged  court  instantly  produced  in  the  minds  of  the 
gentlemen  a  determined  intent  to  inquiry ;  and,  if  pos- 
sible, even  with  a  risk  of  a  loss  of  life,  to  surmount 
the  difficulties — break  down  the  barriers  of  opposition 
— and  to  take  by  force,  if  expedient,  possession  of 
those  to  whom  they  were  now  bound  by  every  tie,  save 
one,  of  matured  affection.  Hence  the  question  put  by 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  279 

the  gentlemen  in  the  plural  number,  and  to  Ellen 
alone  as  speaker,  in  the  language  and  spirit  following : 

"  When  will  you  honor  us  with  the  disclosure  spoken 
of,  allowing  our  course  in  the  result  and  ready  wil- 
lingness to  bear  its  consequences  ?  " 

''  To-morrow,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  in 
the  library,  where  you ,  will  receive  a  written  state- 
ment from  me,  and  where  Susan  and  I  will  attend  you 
and  Mr.  Hyne." 

In  a  little  time  after  they  had  both  read  the  reply 
of  Ellen  to  Laurence,  our  young  friends  bid  a  respect- 
ful adieu  to  the  ladies,  and  were,  with  little  delay,  in 
their  apartment  at  the  Inn. 

A  multiplicity  of  ideas,  upon  the  past,  present 
and  the  future,  occupied  the  minds  of  our  gentlemen, 
and  each  one,  impressed  with  his  own  construction, 
give  utterance  thereto  in  a  communication  of  opinions 
that  had  already  occupied  their  time  till  near  the  tea 
hour  of  that  evening. 

They  had  not  seen  Standly  since  breakfast,  where 
he  .appeared,  formal,  reserved  and  distant — directing 
almost  the  entire  of  his  conversation  to  Melvin  and 
several  others  at  the  table,  who  were  strangers  to  Lau- 
rence and  Hyne.  Since  Standly 's  recent  advice  to 
the  two  latter  they  had  become  shunned  by  him  as 
much  as  it  was  possibly  in  his  power  to  do,  and  even 
in  ordinarily  necessary  interviews  with  his  young 
friends  was  remarkable  for  an  assumed  air  of  dignity, 
unusual  as  unaccounted  for  by  them. 

The  truth  was,  that  the  excitement  he  had  created 
in  the  minds  of  the  young  men  on  all  former  occa- 
sions had  necessarily  to  be  fed  at  every  opportunity, 
and  the  time  approaching,  in  which  his  career  was  to 


280  THE   HEIRESSES    OF   FOTHERESTGAY. 

be  an  important  one  in  the  confederacy  that  evening 
and  in  their  own  room  he  accused  the  gentlemen  of  a 
want  of  confidence  in  him,  alleging,  as  a  proof  of  it, 
that  they  had  come  to  him  for  advice,  but  had  not 
reported  the  result  of  an  important  and  late  interview 
they  had  had  with  the  ladies  at  the  mansion. 

In  reply  to  his  remarks,  Laurence  said:  "So  far, 
Mr.  Standly,  as  respect  for  your  person,  "and  the  es- 
teem with  which  your  association  with  us,  as  a  com- 
panion, a  friend,  and  an  adviser,  since  our  departure 
from  home  to  the  present  hour  are  concerned,  a  retro- 
spective view  of  my  deportment  toward  you,  as  well 
as,  I  will  venture  to  say,  that  of  Sam  has  been,  there 
is  nothing  to  the  contrary  of  what  I  have  just 
asserted,  of  which  you  can  possibly  in  truth  accuse 
us.  Not  so,  however,  with  you  towards  us ;  for  since 
the  hour  we  concluded  to  remain  at  this  inn  during 
the  winter,  a  greater  or  less  degree  of  singular  if  not 
strange  deportment,  has  been  the  almost  invariable 
course  of  your  deportment  toward  us.  What  object 
you  may  have  had  for  it  we  are  in  entire  ignorance 
of;  and  upon  what  your  mysterious  movements, 
united  with  those  of  others  around  us,  are  based,  we 
are  alike  too  proud  as  too  self-dependent,  as  conscious 
of  having  given  no,  cause  for  it,  though  here  alone,  to 
ask  of  a  something  like  a  confederacy  that  is  gather- 
ing around  us.  That  you  belong  to  it,"  said  Lau- 
rence, "is  beyond  a  shadow  of  a  doubt;  and  be 
yours,  and  the  object  of  those  with  whom  you  are 
associated,  what  it  may,  the  future  course  of  Sam  and 
myself  among  these  mountains,,  and  amid  the  depth 
of  winter  that  surrounds  us,  will  be  one  equally  re- 
served and  mysterious  as  that  of  yours  and  others 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  281 

have  been  to  us.  And,"  he  continued,  "I  request  you 
to  understand,  distinctly,  that  intercourse  based  upon 
friendship  between  you  and  us,  from  this  hour  ceases 
to  exist.  And  know,  also,  Mr.  Standly,"  continued 
Laurence,  "  that  whenever  it  becomes  necessary,  by 
way  of  business  or  incidental  casualties,  to  do  so, 
that  we  shall  never  let  our  resentment  of  wrong 
attempted  at,  JOT  imposed  upon  us,  cause  a  refusal  to 
speak  to  you ;  for,  were  we  to  do  so,  it  would  exhibit 
a  weakness  foreign  to  propriety  and  sphere  beneath 
that  of  a  gentleman. 

The  direct  charge  of  deception  with  which  Standly 
was  at  that  time  suspected,  and  the  allusions  made  to 
former  manoeuvres  of  his,  were  what  he  remained 
silent  upon,  was  as  unexpected  as  unlocked  for 
from  the  source  they  came,  and  which  for  a  time 
threatened  his  and  the  co-operating  movements  of  the 
confederacy. 

Just  at  the  conclusion  of  the  difficulty  unfolded  by 
a  reconciliation  between  our  young  gentlemen  and 
Standly,  Melvin  accompanied  by  Urnsden,  entered 
their  apartment.  With  the  two  latter,  Laurence  and 
Hyne  were  social,  agreeable,  and  in  every  way  the 
gentlemen,  and  with  Standly,  not  so,  yet  respectful, 
whenever  in  the  course  of  comments  theirs  came  in 
collision,  or  in  contact  with  his. 

The  engagement  of  our  two  friends  to  Ellen  and 
Susan,  and  the  change  that  had  taken  place  upon 
prospects  in  their  late  interview  with  them  at  the 
mansion,  involved  other  mysteries  imperatively  ne- 
cessary with  Laurence  and  Hyne,  to  obtain  a  solving 
of  and  the  determinations  at  which  they  had  already 
arrived,  of  carrying  their  point  at  all  hazards,  excited 


282  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

in  them  on  the  occasion  a  particularly  polite  as  civil 
deportment  towards  Melvin  and  Urnsden. 

To  their  occasional  allusions  to  the  ladies,  and  fre- 
quent pleasant  hours  they  had  passed  in  their  com- 
pany, Laurence  and  Hyne  could  effect  nothing  but  a 
vague  as  far-fetched  reply,  from  one  at  least  of  the 
two  then  in  their  room. 

The  want  of  that  familiar  and  unrestrained  intimacy 
between  Standly  and  his  young  companions,  hereto- 
fore observed  by  Melvin  and  Urnsden,  soon  caused 
the  two  latter  to  withdraw ;  and  in  a  few  moments, 
Standly  following  them,  the  three  elder  were  soon  in 
Melvin's  apartment,  while  the  young  gentlemen  re- 
mained in  theirs. 

"  A  hurricane  of  furies  are  now  beginning  to  vent 
their  influence  over  us,  around  us,  and  every  where. 
We  shall,  for  the  future,  move  in  this  region,  George," 
said  Hyne,  as  the  latter  rose  from  his  seat  and  began 
walking  forth  and  back  across  their  room.  "  Standly," 
he  continued,  "has  this  night  confirmed  our  sus- 
picions entertained  of  him  ;  has  violated  the  confidence 
reposed  in  him  by  your  and  my  father,  and  as  a  re- 
ward of  their  kindnesses  has  become  treacherous  to 
us  in  the  very  hour^vhen  his  services  as  a  friend  were 
most  needed." 

"True,"  replied  Laurence,  "and  he  has  given  an- 
other forcible  proof  of  the  fact,  '  that  those  upon  whom 
the  most  brilliant  marks  of  favor  are  bestowed,  are 
they  who  too  often  become  the  most  formidable  as  in- 
veterate foes  to  their  benefactors.'  " 

"  What  shall  we  now  do  ?"  resumed  Hyne,  as  he 
returned  to  his  seat. 

"Do."   replied    Laurence1    "as    we    have    always 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  283 

done,  of  course;  act  honorably  and  fear  no  danger, 
though  it  were  thronged  upon  us  numerous  as  the 
sands  of  an  Arabian  desert.  To-morrow,"  continued 
Laurence,  "  will  be  a  day  of  greater  moment  to  us, 
than  that  of  the  present  night  is  trying  to  our  feel- 
ings. On  this  occasion  we  have  seen  an  Iscariot,  and 
knowing  him  to  be  so,  can  guard  against  his  future 
treachery.  To-morrow  we  shall  renew  our  pledges 
of  unalterable  affection ;  declare  our  further  intentions 
to  maintain  them,  and  amidst  all  the  ills  that  surround 
us,  perfect  our  purposes,  or  die  in  the  attempt  to  do 
so." 

At  this  moment  a  tap  was  heard  at  their  door. 

"  Come  in,"  said  Hyne ;  he  had  scarcely  given  as- 
sent to  the  privilege,  when  Sanco  entered  the  room. 

"  A  cold  night,  masters,"  bowing  as  he  spoke,  said 
Sanco. 

"Yes;  and  what  news  have  you  in  it?"  inquired 
Hyne. 

"  Oh  nothing,  but  what  a  little  note  will  tell  you  of." 

"  Where  is  it  ?"  inquired  Hyne. 

"  Safe  in  my  pocket,  and  when  I  warm  my  hands  a 
little,  you  shall  see  it,"  replied  Sanco. 

"  Who  is  the  note  from  ?"  resumed  Hyne. 

"  A  lady,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Whom  did  she  tell  you  to  give  it  to  ?" 

"Master  Laurence"  —  returned  Sanco,  taking  the 
note  from  his  pocket,  and  presenting  it,  as  he  spoke. 

Here  Sanco  was  about  leaving  the  room,  when  Hyne, 
giving  him  an  order  to  remain,  he  did  so — taking  a 
standing  position  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  fire-place 
from  where  the  gentlemen  were  seated  at  a  table. 

With  that  sort  of  anxiety  and  excitement  of  feeling 


284  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

usually  the  attendants  of  persons  in  love,  and  particu- 
larly on  receipt  of  any  thing  in  the  shape  of  letters 
from  those  of  whom  they  are  fond,  Laurence  was  not 
long  in  opening*  the  note,  when  he  read  from  it  as 
follows: 

"  The  Mansion,  January  16th,  1802. 

"  MY  DEAR  SIR  : 

"  I  have  only  a  moment,  taken  from  the  time  occu- 
pied by  others  of  your  sex  with  me  and  Susan,  to 
inform  you  of  an  unforeseen  as  unavoidable  event 
having  taken  place  here,  serving  as  a  preventive  to 
our  meeting  in  the  library,  with  you  and  Mr.  Hyne, 
to-morrow  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  as  contemplated 
upon  and  agreed  to  at  our  last  pleasant  interview. 

"  Knowing  the  attachment  of  yourself  and  Mr. 
Hyne  for  us,  and  aware  of  the  certainty  of  its  being 
reciprocated,  I  think  the  privilege  can  be  ventured 
without  fear  of  censure  or  distrust  from  either  of  you, 
to  say,  Come  not  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  but 
at  half  past  six  o'clock  to-morrow  evening,  when  Susan 
and  myself  will  promptly,  as  with  pleasure  attend  you 
in  this  library,  at  .the  outer  door  of  which,  a  servant 
will  be  waiting  your  arrival. 

"  In  haste,  truly  yours, 

"  ELLEN. 

"  To  Mr.  Laurence,  Mountain  Inn." 

After  both  gentlemen  had  read  the  note  Hyne 
resumed  his  inquiries  of  Sanco. 

"  Who,  "  said  he,  "gave  you  that  note  to  Mr.  Lau- 
rence ?  " 

" Master, "  replied  Sanco.     "Servants  ought  to  be 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF  FOTHERIXGAY.  285 

very  particular  and  careful  of  what  they  speak  about, 
so  ought  white  people,  "  he  continued,  "and  I,  know- 
ing my  place,  and  being  taught  by  my  owner  how  to 
behave,  am  fearful  of  doing  wrong  in  saying  any- 
thing more  about  that  note,  or  of  from  whose  hand  I 
received  it. " 

"You  are  indeed  cautious,"  replied  Hyne,  "but 
in  the  exercise  of  caution  it  is  allowable,  in  all,  to  be 
their  own  judges,  if  capable,  upon  discretion,  and 
acting  upon  it  are  sometimes  safe  in  confiding  to 
others,  and  particularly  when  the  matter  concerns 
them,  and  not  those  by  whom  that  confidence  is  re- 
posed. " 

"  You  talk  right,  young  master,  but  tell  me  how  I 
may  know  myself  safe  in  speaking  further  upon 
things  that  I  know,  to  you  and  Master  Laurence  ?  " 
replied  Sanco. 

"  There  is,  belonging  to  men,  a  principle,  among 
many  others,  called  Aonor,  more  often  abused  than 
kept  inviolate.  Mr.  Laurence  and  myself  can  do  no 
more,  for  the  present,  than  offer  a  promise  for  its  safe 
keeping  between  you  and  us,  when  we  now  ask  your 
aid  and  assistance  in  matters  where  we  alone  are  con- 
cerned, and  of  which,  no  doubt,  you  know  more  from 
things  transpiring  since  we  have  been  among  these 
mountains  than  all  the  knowledge  we  have  of  them 
can  possibly  inform  you  of,  "  returned  Hyne. 

"You  speak  wisely  of  honor,  and  know  how  it 
ought  to  be  used,  when  you  and  Master  Laurence 
pledge  its  observance  with  me,  in  affairs  that  may 
terminate  as  you  wish  them,  but  either  for  or  against 
you,  must  result  in  severe  treatment  to  me  if  be- 
trayed," replied  Sanco. 


286  THE.  HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

"  I  have  great  respect,  however,"  continued  he, 
"for  gentlemanly  and  honorable  men,  and  here  give 
you  a  servant's  word,  which  I  make  my  honor,  to 
serve  you  faithfully  in  things  that  I  know  at  the  pre- 
sent time  most  concerns  you." 

At  that  moment  the  ring  of  a  bell  in  the  bar-room 
attracted  his  attention,  and  saying  as  he  left  their 
door,  "  Danger  awaits  you,  masters,  but  fear  nothing." 
Sanco  was  soon  elsewhere  in  the  Inn. 

"  From  what  we  have  just  witnessed  in  the  manners 
and  discernment  of  that  slave,  your  remarks  seem  to 
be  true,  Sam,"  said  Laurence  ;  when  you  said  to  him, 
"no  doubt  you  know  more  from  things  transpiring 
since  we  have  been  among  those  mountains,  than  all 
the  knowledge  we  have  of  them,  can  possibly  inform 
you  of.  And,"  continued  Laurence,  "  since,  as  Sanco 
said,  when  he  left  us,  '  danger  awaits  you,  but  fear 
nothing,  masters,'  we  must  keep  sacred  everything  he 
tells  us,  in  order  to  be  his  equal  in  known  integrity, 
and  other  virtues.  Things  that  have  been  falsely 
alleged  as  not  having  an  existence,  owing  to  the  ill- 
treatment  of  owners  of  slaves  in  slave-holding  States." 

Time  had  now  passed  to  near  midnight's  hour,  yet 
our  young  gentlemen  feeling  no  inclination  for  sleep, 
continued  an  interchange  of  opinions  with  comments 
upon  events  present,  and  those  to  come  with  them,  till 
the  return  of  Standly  to  their  room  produced  a  silence 
that  induced  each  one  of  the  three  to  retire  for  the 
remainder  of  the  night. 

At  daybreak  the  next  morning  our  young  gentle- 
men rose  from  their  beds,  and,  though  intensely  cold, 
as  was  the  weather,  they  were  out  upon  one  of  those 
accustomed  walks  spoken  of,  and  in  which  to  reflect 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTIIERINGAY.  287 

upon  and  speak  of  the  future  of  their  intentions  with 
which  everything  now  around  them  seemed  saturated. 
Nor  were  they  to  whom  they  were  in  their  own  way 
opposed  less  engaged.  For  Standly,  as  welLas  Melvin 
and  Urnsden,  had  had  a  long  conversation  with  each 
other  the  preceding  evening,  and  had  cogitated  much 
upon  the  course  intended  to  be  pursued  by  them  and 
their  associates. 

A  letter  had  been  written  the  previous  night  by 
Melvin  to  the  fathers  of  the  young  men,  relative  to 
the  projects  of  the  confederacy  thus  far ;  of  their  con- 
templated future  course,  and  requesting  the  pleasure 
of  those  gentlemen's  company  at  the  "  Fotheringay 
Mansion  "  at  a  subsequent  specified  period.  A  mes 
senger  had,  that  morning,  been  dispatched  to  the 
post  office  with  the  letter,  and  all  on  the  part  of  the 
confederates  was  now  ready  for  a  further  prosecution 
of  their  plans. 

At  the  breakfast  table  a  social  and  familiar  inter- 
change of  conversation  was  unknown,  and  when  their 
appetites  for  food  had  become  satisfied  the  young 
gentlemen  re-entered  their  room,  leaving  Standly, 
Melvin  and  others  in  the  dining  room. 

"  All  seems  one  entire  round  of  gloom  to  us  now, 
George,"  said  Hyne,  as  they  had  closed  their  door  and 
were  about  resuming  their  seats.  "Three  days  since, 
our  hopes  were  buoyant  as  air,  and  our  prospects  of 
happiness  flattering  as  assurances,  in  view  of  posses- 
sion, could  make  them.  The  present  time  with  us, 
however,  and  things  with  which  it  is-  connected,  are 
striking  instances  of  the  fates  reserved  for  man  in 
fortune's  wheel  of  time,  and  uncertainty  with  regard 
to  hair  good  or  ill  effects,  in  the  affairs  of  life. " 


288  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEKINGAY. 

"Come  §am,  "  replied  Laurence,  "  don't  philoso- 
phise yourself  into  a  state  of  imaginary  sweetness. 
You  forget  yourself;  I  give  you  credit  for  your  short 
yet  truthful  comment  upon  our  condition,  but  there 
is  something  else  for  us  to  do  besides  that  of  thinking 
upon  the  past  and  upon  the  present. 

"  Have  you  forgotten  our  determination,  consequent 
upon  an  acceptance  by  the  ladies  and  their  promised 
disclosure  to  us.  To-night  that  is  to  be  given,  and, 
if  favorable,  so  much  easier  the  conquest,  and  if  to 
the  reverse,  all  that  remains  for  us  to  do  is — to  know 
the  worst,  act  upon  it  for  the  best,  according  to  cir- 
cumstances, and  by  a  cool,  deliberate  and  persevering 
course,  obtain  our  object  by  a  proper  exercise  of  the 
means  at  hand. " 

After  the  above  manner  of  reasoning  the  remainder 
of  the  day  was  spent  by  the  gentlemen.  And  tea 
over,  and  near  the  hour  appointed,  they  set  out,  in- 
tensely cold  as  it  was,  through  a  deep  snow  that  had 
fallen,  to  comply  with  the  requirement  contained  in 
Ellen's  note  of  the  previous  evening.  The  servant 
spoken  of  was  in  attendance,  who,  upon  their  knock 
at  the  outer  door,  opened  it,  when  they  were  soon  in 
the  library,  seated  by  a  comfortable  fire,  and  near  a 
table  which  a  few  days  before  had  become  familiar  to 
them. 

They  had  scarcely  become  seated  before  the  ladies 
entered  the  apartment,  (and  after  that  expressive 
greeting  which  ought  to  govern  those  of  both  sexes, 
similarly  situated,)  with  an  air  of  dignity  and  collected 
composure  Ellen  presented  to  Laurence  a  sealed  let- 
ter, which,  upon  opening,  he  read  from  it  as  follows: 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  289 

"  The  Mansion,  Jan,  17,  1802 
"  MY  DEAR  SIR  : 

"  That  which  you  now  have  a  right  to  expect,  as 
well  as  a  license  to  know,  is  now  being  disclosed  to 
you  by  me ;  and  surrounded  by  circumstances  of 
which,  as  I  have  heretofore  said,  you  know  nothing, 
the  following  will  only  add  an  additional  surprise  to 
the  score  of  mysteries  with  which  you  have  been  and 
are  still  surrounded.  Amid  them,  it  will  devolve 
upon  you,  and  one  other,  to  adopt  and  prosecute  such 
measures  as  will  be  most  conducive  in  perfecting  your 
plans  to  become  possessed  of  them  who  are,  as  yet, 
yours  by  promise  only. 

"  The  same  motives  actuating  us  in  becoming 
yours  by  marriage,  will,  in  a  like  confidence  in  your 
integrity  and  honor,  prompt  us  to  obey,  in  holding 
ourselves  in  readiness  to  do  our  parts  in  your  attempts 
to  make  us  so.  But  brevity  is  the  present  requisite, 
and  I  must  enter  at  once  upon  what  I  have  promised 
you. 

"  Though  by  every  occular  demonstration  and  con- 
clusion upon  circumstances  with  which  conversant, 
since  your  arrival  among  the  mountains,  you  are 
doubtless  of  opinion  that  Susan  and  myself  are  near 
relatives  of  Mr.  Urnsden,  it  is  a  duty  due  from  us  to 
say  that  we  are  not  so  I  Nor  is  there  a  particle  of  his 
blood,  however  remote  the  consanguinity,  that  flows 
in  our  veins. 

"  From  circumstances  of  which  you  will,  in  a  more 
appropriate  'hour  than  the  •  present,  be.  apprized, 
we  have  lived,  (as  you  have  a  proof  of,)  in  his 
family ;  and  to  its  credit,  suffice  it  to  say,  that  every 

19 


290  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEREST^AY. 

kindness  has  been,  thus  far,  in  the  necessaries  of  life, 
experienced  by  us. 

"  Mr.  Urnsden's  associations  in  early  life  have  made 
him  wealthy;  and  in  the  course  of  those  events,  it 
would  seem,  we  have  become  victims  of  his  and  the 
plans  of  his  associates  in  prosperity's  spoil,  to  make 
us  the  wives  of  those  of  his  choice ;  and  in  doing  so, 
not  to  allow  us  the  privilege  (let  alone  the  time  and 
opportunity)  of  ratifying  such  events  with  our  own 
free  will  and  approval. 

"  Such  acts,  on  the  part  of  those  to  whose  control 
werhave  been,  and  are  yet  subject,  are  revolting  to 
our  feelings,  as  well  as  sense  of  justice,  and  are,  no 
doubt,  greatly  obnoxious  to  the  high-toned  sentiments 
of  him  and  his  friend  to  whom  I  am  now  writing. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  shall  only  add  (for  the  oppor- 
tunity is  a  stolen  one  to  say  what  I  have,)  that  if  you 
and  him,  to  whom  this  is  equally  addressed,  entertain 
now  the  same  sentiments  of  affection  for  the  deaf  and 
dumb  as  was  a  few  days  ago  so  warmly  expressed  for 
them,  they  will  hold  themselves  in  readiness  (if  no 
other  more  agreeable  way  can  be  devised,  in  order  to 
become  so,)  to  place  themselves  under  your  protection 
as  well  as  honor,  in  an  elopement,  to  become  your 
wives  and  you  our  husbands,  by  a  mutual  and  lasting 
consent. 

"  I  am,  dear  sir,  with  much  esteem,  yours, 

"ELLEN. 

"  To  Mr.  Geo.  Laurence." 

During  the  perusal  of  the  letter  by  both  gentlemen, 
one  reading  over  the  shoulder  of  the  other,  the  ladies 
resorted  to  the  mode  formerly  spoken  of  to  effect  fur- 
ther purposes. 


THE  HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  291 

"  This  brings  us  now  to  a  proper  understanding  of 
the  present,  and  calls  for  an  immediate  action  upon 
the  future,"  said  Laurence,  in  a  usually  articulated 
tone  of  voice,  and  as  he  yet  held  the  open  letter  in  his 
hand,  "  the  ladies,"  he  continued,  "  have  honored  us 
with  their  affection,  as  they  have  with  their  confi- 
dence ;  to  maintain  both,  ought  to  be,  as  it  must  be, 
now,  our  chief  aim,  be  the  consequences  what  they 
may  to  us." 

"  I  cordially  Concur  with  you  in  opinion  as  well  as 
determination,"  replied  Hyne ;  "  and  now,"  he  con- 
tinued, "  let  us  get  from  them  a  few  more  items,  upon 
which  to  base  our  first  steps  in  that  which  so  impera- 
tively demands  our  immediate  attention." 

Shortly  after  this  conversation  between  the  two 
friends  had  taken  place,  the  following  was  presented 
by  Laurence  to  Ellen: 

"  The  Mansion,  Jan'y  17,  1802. 
"Miss  ELLEN: 

"That  with  which  you  have  this  night  honored  us, 
is,  as  you  have  properly  said,  what  we  have  known 
nothing  of  'till  within  the  present  hour,  and  which 
circumstances  falling  casually  under  our  notice,  pro- 
claim the  truth  of. 

"  All  now  remaining  for  yourself  and  Miss  Susan 
to  do,  is  to  afford  us  further  information  upon  occur- 
rences that  have  passed  in  review  before  us,  and  upon 
those  yet  wrapped  in  mystery,  that  the  future  of  our 
intended  course  may  present.  Is  this  proposition 
agreeable,  and  one  to  which  you  will  assent  ?  if  so, 
we  will  ask  a  few  more  questions. 


292  THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTDERIXGAY. 

"  With  unalterable  esteem  for  those  to  whom  it 
belongs,  we  are  — 

"  GEORGE  L.  LAUREXCE 
"SAM.  L.  HYNE." 

To  that  note  was  the  following  reply : 

"The  'Mdnsi&n,'  Jariy  17,  1802. 
"DEAR  SIRS, — Doubt  not  our  sincerity  and  entire 
willingness  to  place  ourselves  under  your  protection, 
care  and  instruction,  since  it  is  our  firm  belief  that  in 
doing  so  we  will  be  safe. 

"  That  you  have  asked  for  of  us,  is  hereby  granted. 
Of  us,  ask  what  questions  you  please,  and  the  con- 
fidence now  placed  in  }'ou,  will  prompt  an  immediate 
reply.  While,  in  the  meantime,  we  are  assured  that 
a  mutual  privilege  will  be  allowed,  as  well  as  com- 
plied with  on  your  parts  to, 

"  Sincerely  yours, 

"  ELLEN. 

"To  Messrs.  Geo.  L.  Laurence  " SUSAN". 

and  Sam.  L.  Hyne." 

The  joint  note  of  the  ladies  to  the  gentlemen,  caused 
the  likewise  written  questions  of  them,  in  a  united  re- 
quest, as  follows : 

"  Will  you  inform  us  of  your  maiden  names,  or  give 
us  those  by  which  to  address  you  for  the  present  and 
in  the  future  of  our  contemplated  plans  ? 

"Do  you  think  it  advisable  to  inform  Urnsden  of 
our  affection  for  you,  and  to  ask  his  consent  to  our 
respective  unions? 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  293 

"  Can  Melvm  be  trusted  as  an  auxiliary  to  our 
plans? 

"Is  Sanco  trustworthy,  and  can  we  use  him  with 
safety? 

"Do  you  know  of  any  neighbor  who  can  be  ad- 
mitted to  our  confidence  ? 

"  Would  it  not  be  advisable,  in  the  event  of  a  denial 
by  Urnsden,  to  make  our  visits  to  the  '  Mansion  few 
and  far  between,'  and  in  the  meantime,  keep  up  a  cor- 
respondence during  our  preparations  for  (if  necessary) 
an  elopement? 

"  Could  you  not  make  your  appearance,  occasion- 
ally, at  the  Mountain  Inn? 

"  Do  you  know  any  one  acquainted  with  the  respec- 
tive ranges  of  those  mountains,  through  the  secret 
pass-way  of,  and  nearest  point  to  dense  settlements — 
to  clear  them  in  safety? 

"  Truly  as  ever  yours, 

"G.  L.  LAURENCE, 
"S.  L.  HYNE." 
"To  Misses  EUen  and  Susan." 

As  soon  as  they  could  commit  it  to  writing,  the 
ladies  replied: 

"  The  Mansion,  Jariy  17,  1802. 
"GENTLEMEN: 

"  You  were  introduced  to  us  as  the  niece  and  daugh- 
ter of  the  brother  of  Mrs.  Dierdoffe.  It  is  not  at 
present  wise,  nor  indeed,  necessary  to  your  purpos9, 
to  give  our  real  names,  and  in  future,  till  a  more  ap- 
propriate time,  we  ask  of  you  to  know  and  address  us 
by  the  name  of  Dierdoffe. 


294:  THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHEKINGAY. 

"It  may  in  the  end  be  a  benefit  for  you  to  ask  the 
consent  of  Mr.  Urnsden  to  our  union,  but  under  ex- 
isting circumstances  we  fear  a  denial.  In  future  Mr. 
Melvin  may  be,  but  not  now,  a  beneficial  auxiliary  to 
our  plans ;  better  to  let  him  alone  and  merely  watch 
his  movements  for  the  present. 

"  Though  Sanco  be  a  slave,  he  is,  nevertheless, 
honorable,  and  can  be  with  safety  confided  in. 

"  We  know  several  who  are  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  different  passes  through  the  mountains ;  but 
at  present,  must  claim  some  time  for  reflection  before 
recommending  to  you  a  suitable  person  for  so  import- 
ant a  trust  as  that  will  be  to  you  and  those  in  your 
care  and  under  your  protection. 

"  Of  your  visits  to  the  '  Mansion,'  subsequent  to  an 
application  to  Mr.  Urnsden,  (if  made)  we  think  there 
is  no  necessity  for  them  to  be  any  less  '  few  and  far 
between,  than  previous. 

"  It  may  become  necessary  for  each  one  of  us  to 
write  occasionally.  "We  can  make  occasional  visits  to 
the  Inn  with  safety. 

"  Our  knowledge  of  the  passes  through  the  moun- 
tains is  not  to  be  relied  upon;  but  will  try  to  find 
our  those  whose  knowledge  of  them  can  be  taken. 
*  "  For  the  present  we  can  stay  with  you  no  longer, 
for  fear  of  being  missed  from  the  company  of  others 
in  the  parlor,  where  our  presence  is  now  required ; 
therefore,  think  it  not  rudeness  in  us  for  saying  so, 
and  still  rely  upon  our  future,  as  our  former  acts 
have  been  for  your  benefit. 

Yours, 

"ELLEN, 

"  SUSAN." 
"  To  Messrs  Laurence  and  Hyne." 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  295 

Soon  after  the  reply  of  the  ladies  was  read,  the  adieu 
was  given,  and  our  travellers  retracing  their  course  to 
the  Inn,  were  in  possession  of  a  new  series  of  thought. 

"It  is  not  yet  ten  o'clock,"  said  Hyne,  as  upon  ap- 
proaching a  candle  he  looked  at  his  watch.  "  And," 
he  continued,  "  as  that  which  most  effects  relief  to  the 
wearied  mind  is  music,  I  now  move  that  we  amuse 
ourselves,  for  near  the  last  time,  perhaps,  upon  the 
instruments  we  have  been  favored  with  the  loan  of 
from  those,  now  ours,  by  promise." 

"Agreed,"  replied  Laurence,  and  in  a  few  moments 
their  room  resounded  with  the  masterly  tones  of  the 
violin  and  flute. 

Since  his  recent  quarrel  with  his  young  com- 
panions, Standly  had  removed  his  quarters  to  another 
apartment  of  the  Inn,  and  was  now  seldom  seen  by 
them,  except  at  the  dining-table,  where  he  continued 
austerely  fixed  in  his  purpose,  and  distant  as  ever  to- 
ward them ;  and  amid  the  addition  of  his  now  new 
acquaintances  and  those  of  his  old  ones,  he  seemed  to 
have  become  an  ingrate  to  those  who  had  aided  and 
assisted,  and  brought  him  into  the  road  of  wealth,  by 
his  neglect  of  their  children  among  strangers  and  in  a 
distant  country  from  that  of  the  home  of  their  birth. 

Base  ingratitude !  thou  art  the  offspring  of  his  Sa- 
tanic Majesty,  and  by  thy  influence,  man  not  only 
treats  his  fellow-man  rudely,  but  constantly,  is  abusive 
of  His  mercies,  and  insolent  to  the  Divine  Author  of 
this  existence. 


296  THE   HEIKE5SES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 


CHAPTEE    XXXVII. 

Life  like  the  see  saw  reciprocates,  as  long  as  tbe  balance  is  retained  all's 
well;  but  when  preponderance  of  ills  bring  men  low,  no  matter  how 
kind  those  to  whom  most  so,  are  they  by  whom  a  benefactor  is  most 
neglected  as  most  forgotten. 

FOR  several  days  everything  wore  the  appearance 
of  calmness,  nor  was  the  least  impediments  thrown  in 
the  way  of  visits  at  will  of  the  gentlemen  to  the  "  Man- 
sion." 

It  was  at  that  period  of  their  affairs  the  gentlemen 
had  flattered  themselves  that  a  reaction  for  the  better 
had  taken  place.  Urnsden  had  become  more  social 
and  polite ;  reserve,  so  long  his  attendant,  had  been 
dismissed  from  service,  and  that  frank  and  generous 
deportment,  that  so  eminently  distinguishes  the  two 
friends  from  a  foe,  was  assumed  and  really  well  played 
by  him. 

Within  that  time  our  gentlemen  had  frequently 
dined  and  supped  at  the  mansion,  and,  on  more  than 
one  occasion,  had  amused  themselves  at  games  of  whist 
in  the  family  circle. 

Here  they  had  often  met  with  Melvin,  Miller  and 
Standly.  The  two  former  exhibiting  a  degree  of  affa- 
bility, much  calculated  to  change  distrust  into  confi- 
dence; while  the  latter,  still  retaining  his  bad  graced 
attempts  at  dignity  and  remaining  reserved,  would 
only,  when  the  link  of  conversation,  by  those  in 
whose  company  he  was,  required  it,  notice  his  young 
and  now  shunned  friends. 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERTNGAY.  297 

The  ladies  had  made  frequent  visits  at  the  Inn, 
where  too,  in  the  sitting  or  parlor  apartment,  of  that 
establishment,  they  had  met  with  and  spent  many 
agreeable  hours  with  their  beaux  ideal  of  affection. 

In  one  of  those  interviews  and  in  the  midst  of  that 
round  of  interesting  communication,  ever  the  delight 
of  persons  whose  hearts  are  co-partners  in  affection, 
as  were  those  then  present,  the  man  spoken  of  as 
having  been  seen  in  the  library  entered  the  parlor. 
At  his  appearance,  both  ladies  rose  and  courteously 
saluting  him,  Ellen  presented  a  chair  upon  which  he 
seated  himself  at  a  respectful  distance  from  the  com- 
pany he  had  thus  intruded  upon. 

A  profusion  of  Sampsonian  signs  of  strength  being 
in  dishevelled  order,  and  as  it  rested  upon  the  cape  of 
a  coat,  corresponding  with  the  balance  of  his  apparel, 
that,  like  its  owner,  had  had  a  better  appearance  in 
days,  to  both,  then  passed,  and  long  since  neglected 
as  forgotten.  The  Maniac  was  strongly  developed  in 
his  person  and  actions,  while,  at  intervals,  he  spoke 
rationally  and  made  use  of  strikingly  impressive  as 
sensible  remarks. 

In  a  few  moments  the  stranger  rose  from  his  seat, 
and  advancing  to  the  one  occupied  by  Ellen,  made  a 
respectful  bow  and  signs,  requesting  her  note-book 
and  pencil.  When  she  had  given  them  to  him  he 
resumed  his  chair,  and  with  the  book  resting  upon 
one  knee  across  the  other,  he  wrote  : 

"  The  foxes,  they  have  holes  and  are  cunning." 

"  The  birds  of  the  air,  they  can  fly,  have  nests,  and 
are  sometimes  caged  ;  when  so,  like  ladies,  ought  to 
be  more  prized  and  better  taken  care  of  by  men  than 
they  are." 

X  -    •*  :• 


298  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

"  The  Son  of  Man — he  was  betrayed  and  made  a 
victim  of,  by  a  villain  who  is  the  chief  of  many  fol- 
lowers of  him  now  in  the  world." 

Here  the  stranger  returned  to  Ellen  her  note-book 
and  pencil,  and  in  the  next  moment  left  the  room. 

"  Who  is  that  man  ?"  enquired  the  gentlemen,  as 
he  left  the  door. 

"  He  is  one  of  many  unfortunates  whom  ill  fate  has 
consigned  to  the  wretched  as  horrible  state  of  insan- 
ity," replied  Ellen.  "  And  he  has  two  sons,  who  are 
supporters  and  protectors  of  their  mother,  two  sisters, 
and  their  wretched  father.  The  mother  and  daughters 
are  sensible,  modest  and  discreet  women,  and  his 
sons  deserving  and  gentlemanly  men,  and,  as  Susan 
and  myself  have  thought,  suitable  persons  for  you  to 
engage  in  order  to  facilitate  your  intended  purposes." 

The  recommendation  of  Ellen,  sustained  by  that  of 
Susan,  was  sufficient,  and  in  the  course  of  that  inter- 
view it  was  settled  and  agreed  upon  that  the  young 
men  spoken  of  were  to  be  sent  for  by  Ellen,  arid  after 
her  and  Susan  had  made  known  their  business  with 
them,  they  were  to  be  sent  to  Laurence  and  Hyne 
at  the  Inn. 

In  the  course  of  that  interview  Hyne  asked :  "  Why 
it  was  that  the  servants  as  well  as  all  others  about 
and  coming  to  the  Mansion  and  Inn  when  spoken  to 
by  him  and  Laurence,  made  no  reply,  and  invariably 
put  the  fore  finger  of  their  right  hand  perpendicularly 
across  their  lips  ?" 

"That  is,"  was  the  reply,  "because  Mr.  Urnsden 
and  Mr.  Melvin  exercise  a  commanding  influence  over 
nearly  all  among  these  mountains.  And,"  continued 
their  informant,  "  among  that  few  who  are  not  so,  are 


THE   HEIKESSE3   OF   TOTHERIXGAY.  299 

those  by  whose  aid  and  your  management  we  hope  to 
be  relieved  from  the  tyranny  to  which  we  have  been 
so  long  subjected.  The  others  are  they  who  it  would 
be  as  impossible  to  induce  departure  from  instruction, 
as  it  is  for  you  to  move  one  of  the  mountains  by  which 
we  are  surrounded.  Thus,"  she  continued,  "  I  have 
given  you  an  additional  statement  of  Susan's  and  my 
situation  here,  and  to  be  delivered  from,  depends 
solely  upon  yourself  and  Mr.  Laurence." 

Here  the  ladies  signified  their  departure  for  home, 
and  in  a  little  time  were  on  their  way,  escorted  by 
their  beaux,  through  a  broad  pathway  that  the  snow 
had  been  cleared  from,  leading  from  the  inn  to  the 
mansion.  On  their  arrival  at  the  door,  the  gentlemen 
declined  an  invitation  to  go  in,  and  returning  to  their 
room  found  Urnsden  and  Melvin  seated  by  a  com- 
fortable fire  in  it. 

"  We  hare  assumed  a  privilege,  gentlemen,  for 
which,  if  offensive,  we  ask  pardon,"  said  Urnsden. 

"  No  apology  is  necessary,  sir,"  replied  Hyne,  just 
as  Melvin  had  been  called  out  of  the  room. 

Soon  after  Melvin  had  left,  Urnsden  was  about  fol- 
lowing, when  Laurence  said  to  him : 

"  Can  you  allow  us  a  few  moment's  conversation 
with  you,  alone,  this  evening  ?" 

"With  pleasure,  sir.  At  what  time?"  inquired 
Urnsden. 

"  At  seven  o'clock,"  returned  Laurence. 

In  a  few  moments  the  gentlemen  were  alone,  when 
they  decided  upon  taking  that  opportunity  of  know- 
ing how  they  stood  in  Urnsden's  estimation,  in  asking 
of  him  the  hands  of  the  ladies. 


300  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

The  hour  arrived,  and  Urnsden,  punctual  in  his 
attendance,  entered  their  apartment. 

On  that  occasion  he  was  social,  and  pleasingly  com- 
municative ;  and  in  a  few  moments,  adverting  to  his 
habits  of  business,  asked — 

"  "What  is  yours  at  the  present  time  with  me,  gen- 
tlemen ?" 

To  this  question  Laurence  replied,  "  You  have,  Mr. 
Urnsden,  been  an  eye-witness  of  the  attentions  paid 
by  myself  to  Miss  Ellen,  as  well  as  those  of  my  friend, 
Mr.  Hyne,  to  Miss  Susan.  Those  attentions  from  the 
manner  received  have  caused  an  affection  in  us,  already 
reciprocated  by  them,  lasting  as  life.  All  now  remain- 
ing to  complete  our  happiness  is  your  consent  to  their 
union  with  us.  It  is  proper  here  to  inform  you,  sir, 
that  neither  Mr.  Hyne  or  myself  have  any  expectan- 
cies, save  through  those  we  may  merit,  from  a  high 
sense  of  duty  and  practice  of  it,  to  our  honored  parents. 
Should  this  recommendation,  added  to  an  industrious 
and  honorable  deportment,  and  an  unceasing  affection 
satisfy  you, — we  claim,  at  your  hands,  the  gifts  just 
asked  for." 

For  some  minutes  after  Laurence  had  closed  his 
remarks,  a  profound  silence  ensued  between  the  par- 
ties concerned,  when  Urnsden  replied : 

"  Gentlemen,  at  such  a  time  as  the  present  is,  it  is 
natural  for  the  mind  of  the  applicant,  as  well  as  that 
of  the  person  applied  to,  to  be  (if  ever)  reflective.  I 
have  in  truth  witnessed  your  affection  and  attention, 
and  am  flattered  with  the  preference  you  entertain  for 
those  whom  you  have  just  asked  of  me  the  bestowal 
of  upon  you.  And  am  here  compelled  to  say,  that 
that  gift  is  not  now  mine  to  make ;  consequent  upon 


THE   HEIKES3E3   OP   FOTHERINGAY.  301 

other  arrangements.  My  refusal  of  your  application," 
continued  Urnsden,  "is  not  intended  to  lessen  my 
friendship  for  you,  and  as  an  earnest  of  what  I  say, 
here  repeat  to  you  the  pleasure,  I  and  my  family  will 
always  feel,  in  seeing  you  at  the  Mansion." 

In  a  short  time,  Urnsden  withdrew,  and  the  young 
men  were  alone. 

"  The  consequences  of  other  arrangements,  others  will 
have  to  bear,"  said  Hyne,  after  some  time  of  silence 
ensued  between  the  two  friends.  "  Come,  George," 
continued  Hyne,  "let  us  apply  to  our  old  friend, 
Apollo,  for  a  temporary  respite,  and  amid  his  round 
of  pleasures,  create  a  calm,  ever  better  to  face  the  foe 
with,  than  that  of  rage."  They  did  so,  and  again 
passed  their  evening  by  pleasant  enjoyments  in  music. 

Upon  one  of  their  visits  to  the  mansion,  Laurence 
and  Hyne,  at  their  entering  the  parlor,  met  with  two 
young  men,  strangers  to  them,  in  a  like  pantomimic 
conversation  with  the  ladies,  to  those  they  had  had  so 
frequently  with  them.  For  a  few  moments,  the  crim- 
son blush  of  confusion  mantled  the  cheek  of  each 
lady,  and  ere  our  young  friends  had  taken  seats  on  an 
opposite  and  vacated  sofa,  near  the  fire,  the  strangers 
rose  from  their  chairs  and  unceremoniously  left  the 
room.  -'.  •'•-' 

The  note-books  of  each  lady,  and  of  each  gentle- 
man, were  brought  into  use  soon  after  the  strangers 
had  left;  and  no  allusion  being  made  to  the  embarras- 
ment  of  the  ladies  at  their  unexpected  arrival,  nor  of 
the  strangers  and  their  singular  deportment,  our  gen- 
tlemen became  communicative  upon  their  plans,  and 
the  further  prosecution  of  them,  and  their  now  earnest 
desire  of  arriving  at  their  final  result.  Their  late  inter- 


302  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY 

view  with  Urnsden  was  spoken  of,  which  Laurence 
related  almost  word  for  word. 

On  their  then  interview  with  Ellen  and  Susan,  the 
miniatures  of  two  gentlemen  were  discovered,  resting 
upon  the  bosom  of  each  one,  while  to  their  sides  were 
tastily  suspended  splendid  gold  watches. 

The  youthful  appearance  of  the  keepsakes  that 
rested  upon  the  bosoms  of  those  who  had  so  frequently 
said  they  were  theirs  by  promise,  and  the  watches,  that 
seemed,  from  their  size,  those  worn  by  gentlemen, 
attracted  the  observation  of  our  young  friends,  and 
drew  from  them  the  inquiry  of,  u  Who  the  miniatures 
were  intended  to  represent,  and  from  whose  hands  the 
watches  on  their  persons  were  presented  ?" 

That  question  was  unexpected,  as  coming  from  the 
source  it  did,  and  the  ladies,  again  a  little  embarrassed, 
and  somewhat  piqued,  severally  replied: 

"  The  miniature  you  see  on  my  person  is  from  him 
whom  I  love,  and  shall  continue  to  do  so  till  the  last 
pulse  becomes  still  that  throbs  in  the  bosom  upon 
which  it  is  now  placed.  And  the  watch  by  my  side 
no  less  valuable — is  from  the  same  source." 

Having  similar  objects  in  view,  there  was  conse- 
quently a  series  of  questions  and  answers  returned 
between  each  two  of  the  four. 

"You  cannot  be  serious  in  what  you  say,  since  you 
have  so  recently  assured  me,  that,  if  necessary,  you 
will  elope,  in  order  to  become  mine?"  was  a  question 
presented  by  each  gentleman,  with  looks  of  surprise. 

"I  have  never  been  more  so,"  was  the  calm  reply 
of  each  lady. 

Here  the  gentlemen  were  for  some  time  mute  as 
they  who  were  then  before  them,  and  who  had  but  a 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEHrNGAY.  303 

few  days  before  pledged  their  faith  in  unalterable 
affection. 

While  all  were  in  a  sombre  mood,  the  attention  of 
Hyne  was  drawn  again  to  the  watch  worn  by  Susan, 
and  upon  which  he  had  just  discovered  a  sentence  of 
some  kind  had  been  engraved,  but  what,  from  the 
position  the  watch  occupied  by  her  side,  he  was  unable 
to  discover. 

Just  at  the  time  our  gentlemen  had  (using  a  phrase 
of  the  present  day)  received  their  "walking  papers," 
the  Maniac,  sans  .ceremonie,  entered  the  parlor,  and 
stepping  to  where  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  yet 
seated,  said  to  the  latter, — 

"  Strangers  are  not  always  to  be  trusted ;  but,  when 
tried,  they  may  be.  Let  me  see  your  hands;"  here 
taking  one  of  each  in  his,  looking  sternly  in  the  faces 
of  Laurence  and  Hyne  as  he  did  so — then  attentively 
examining  the  palms  of  their  hands,  he  continued, 
"  your  faces  betoken  good  hearts,  and  your  hands  say 
it  is  so.  If  you  love — don't  think  that  you  are  always 
right,  and  spoil  what  you  have  gained  by  being  too 
suspicious.  Jealousy  paralyzes  the  mind,  and  like  slow 
poison  in  the  stomach,  gradually  destroys  all  the  bet- 
ter qualities  of  the  soul." 

At  closing  the  last  remark,  the  stranger  left  the 
parlor  as  unconsciously  as  he  entered  it,  and  in  a  few 
moments  after,  our  two  friends  having  had  their 
"walking  papers,"  signed,  sealed  and  delivered  to 
them,  rose  from  their  chairs,  made  respectful  bows  to 
the  ladies,  and  were  soon  again  in  their  room  at  the 
Inn. 

How  much  of  that  kind  of  work  have  you  done,  my 
fair  readers!  Is  it  with  you  as  "regrets"  are  to  a 


304  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

party — written  only  because  custom  makes  it  neces- 
sary, and  thought  of  no  longer  than  the  time  employed 
in  writing  them ;  or  are  they  not,  sometimes  regretted 
by  you  during  life?  And,  suffer  me  to  add,  what 
think  you  of  the  state  of  love  affairs  now,  between  our 
ladies  and  gentlemen  ?  For  my  own  part,  out  of  the 
respect  in  which  you  are  held  by  me,  and  ought  to  be 
by  others  of  my  sex,  and  motives  entertained  of  bet- 
tering the  condition  .of  all,  from  the  views  contained 
in  this  work,  I  shall  tell  you,  as  well  as  I  can,  how 
the  difficulties  between  those  of  whom  we  have  been 
speaking,  were  settled. 

For  the  following  two  or  three  days  the  gentlemen 
kept  their  room,  not  however,  as  many  do  on  such 
occasions,  intently  reflecting  upon  trouble— purchas- 
ing it  at  wholesale,  and  retailing  it  to  themselves  in  a 
sort  of  spinning  out  of  sorrow;  but  in  calling  to  their 
aid  the  resuscitative  influence  of  music,  though  at 
times,  they  spoke  of  the  event  and  the  best  terms 
upon  which  to  offer  an  adjustment.  At  length  a  joint 
letter  was  fixed  upon,  that  read  as  follows : — 

"  Mountain  Inn,  Jan.  20th,  1802. 

"'To  err  is  human,  to  forgive,  Divine.'  If  that 
Divinity  to  which  the  last  part  of  the  borrowed  sen- 
tence, just  written,  is  in  professed  imitation  by  you, 
we  throw  ourselves  under  its  influence  in  the  present 
instance,  and  when  destruction  is  so  threatening  to 
our  hopes. 

"  That  we  haye  committed  that  to  which  the  first 
part  of  the  sentence  made  use  of  refers,  we  feel  no 
hesitation  in  the  acknowledgment  of;  and,  in  doing 
so,  own  the  high  sense  we  entertain  of  the  injustice 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  805 

done  you,  in  so  glaring  a  manner  as  to  suspect  your 
want  of  sincerity  in  affection,  for  us;  and,  we  to  stamp 
it  with,  the  seal  of  jealousy.- 

"If  a  sincere  determination  to  do  so  no  longer  can 
possibly  place  us  in  the  position  once  thought  to  have 
been  occupied  in  your  estimation ;  your  forgiveness 
is  solicited,  and  a  recall  to  that  rank  asked  for  by 

"  GEO.  L.  LAURENCE. 

"SAM.  L.  HYNE. 

"To  Misses  Ellen  and  Susan  Dierdoffe.  The 
Mansion." 

That  letter  had  scarcely  been  directed  and  sealed 
and  laid  on  the  table,  as  it  was,  before  the  Maniac 
entered  their  room.  Upon  his  head  was  a  broad- 
brimmed  beaver  hat,  that  seemed  to  have  been,  long 
in  service,  and  having  a  triangular,  or  three-sided 
shape.  On  the  left  side  of  it  was  placed  a  plume, 
composed  of  part  of  the  tail  of  a  pheasant,  and  fas- 
tened to  a  kind  of  rosette  composed  of  dressed  deer- 
skin, and  from  which  was  suspended  three  neat 
tassels  made  of  like  material,  fastened  to  the  rosette 
by  a  large  gilt  button  in  the  centre.  Upon  that  occa- 
sion the  Maniac  wore  a  dressed  deer-skin  hunting- 
shirt,  lined  with  the  skins  of  the  otter,  with  the  fur 
side  out.  His  pants  were  also  of  the  dressed  deer- 
skin, and  united  at  the  ankles  by  a  pair  of  moccasins 
worn  on  his  feet.  One  would  have  supposed  him  more 
sane  than  otherwise  in  the  season  of  which  we  have 
been  speaking.  His  hunting-shirt  was  lapped  around 
his  person,  and  made  fast  on  the  left  side  by  means 
of  a  belt,  made  of  dressed  bear-skin,  with  a  large 
buckle  on  one  end  of  it. 

21 


306  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY 

On  entering  their  room  the  stranger  occupied,  for  a 
few  moments,  a  standing  position  near  the  centre  of 
it,  from  whence  he  seemed  to  eye,  minutely,  every- 
thing about  the  room.  Then  advancing  towards  the 
fire,  he  took  a  seat  upon  the  same  chair  by  the  table 
that  Laurence  had  been  seated  upon  and  writing  at, 
and  that  he  had  a  moment  before  vacated. 

"  This  unfortunate  again  here,"  said  Laurence,  as  he 
took  a  chair  that  placed  the-  stranger  between  himself 
and  Hyne. 

"  Good  morning !"  said  the  latter  to  the  stranger. 

"  Mornings  are  not  always  good,"  he  replied. 

"  Are  you  well  to-day  ?"  returned  Hyne. 

"Better,  perhaps,  than  some  others,"  replied  the 
stranger,  as  he  looked  intently  upon  the  fire. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?"  continued  Hyne. 

"  What  you  would  like  to  know,"  was  the  reply,  as 
the  stranger,  without  moving  his  head  to  the  right  or 
the  left,  still  kept  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  fire. 

"  What  use  is  there  in  it,  to  speak  to  this  unfortu- 
nate man,  Sam  ?  It  is,"  continued  Laurence,  "  a  use- 
less expenditure  of  time  only,  and  which  we  can 
employ  more  pleasantly." 

"  The  creature  might  throw  some  light  upon  our 
present  condition,  as  it  is  said  that  'fools  sometimes 
speak  wisely,'  "  replied  Hyne. 

"  Wise,  wise,  wise,"  was  the  immediate  murmuring 
expression  of  the  stranger.  Then  continuing,  he  said, 
"  Love,  when  sincere,  is  good ;  and  disappointment  in 
it  is — bad.  Confidence  betrayed  is  unmanly,  and 
worse  than  an  open  enemy." 

Here  the  stranger  was  again  silent,  and  changing  hia 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  307 

position,  his  face  fronting  the  table,  he  fixes  his  eye 
intently  upon  the  letter. 

"  Hush,"  said  Ilyne,  as  Laurence  was  about  to  speak. 
"  Let  us  watch  his  actions,"  continued  Hyne,  "  and  hear 
what  more  he  has  got  to  say." 

Hyne  had  scarcely  made  the  request,  before  the 
stranger,  looking  at  the  direction  of  the  letter,  con- 
tinued :  "  For  war,  or  for  peace — I  am  ready !  Let 
me  think !  Ah !  it  is  for  peace — distrust !  treachery  !  1 
Those  ragged  set  of  animals !  Clear  the  way,  and  let 
me  go  !"  thus  saying,  the  stranger  rose  from  his  chair, 
and  seizing  the  letter,  was,  in  the  next  instant,  out  of 
their  room. 

The  Inn  had  been,  after  breakfast  that  morning, 
vacated — that  is,  Melvin,  Standly,  and  others,  usually 
about  it,  had  gone  elsewhere,  and  Sanco  himself  being 
absent,  of  course  the  attempts  of  Laurence  and  Hyne 
made  to  discover  the  whereabouts  of  the  stranger,  were 
all  useless. 

"  You  had  better  have  taken  my  advice,  "  said  Lau- 
rence, after  they  had  returned  to  their  room,  "  and 
have  watched  that  Maniac,  instead  of  letting  him 
watch  us.  Doubtless,  "  he  continued,  "  that  letter  will 
fall  into  the  hands  of  either  Standly,  Melvin  or  Urns- 
den,  and  if  it  does,  we  shall  be,  in  that  event,  truly 
betrayed,  and  more  low  in  the  estimation  of  them  to 
whom  it  is  addressed  than  if  we  had  never  written. 
For,  as  it  was,  we  were  discarded  for  a  justifiable 
cause,  and  one  that  I  hate  myself  for,  for  ever  having 
entertained. " 

"True, "  replied  Hyne,  "  but  we  may  yet  be  fortu- 
nate, and  even  in  this  most  unexpected  affair  I  have 
no  idea,  as  yet,  of  purchasing  trouble  in  advance  of 


308  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

our  use  of  it.  We  must  wait  awhile  before  laying  in 
supplies  serving  the  present  demand, "  continued 
Hyne. 

"  You  are  more  of  a  philosopher  than  I  thought 
you  was,  Sam,  and  in  future  I  shall  profit  by  your 
present  example  and  take  lessons  from  you,  "  replied 
Laurence. 

Our  two  friends  were  still  descanting  upon  the 
"  ups  and  down  "  they  had  experienced  among  the 
mountains  when  Sanco  made  his  appearance. 

The  agreement  formerly  entered  into,  between  them 
and  Sanco,  caused  no  hesitation  whatever  with  our 
young  gentlemen,  in  immediately  informing  him  of 
what  had  happened. 

When  they  had  done  so,  Sanco  shook  his  head 
and  remained  for  some  moments  silent,  at  length  he 
said :  "  This  is  ill  luck  to  you,  masters,  but  may  be 
I  can  fix  it  all  right  again.  The  scripter  says, 
Massa  Solomon  was  a  mighty  wise  man,  and  I  think, 
in  these  days,  if  we  have  not  wise  ones  there  is  some 
cunning  ones-,  .at  least,  among  us.  Now,  who  would 
'sposed  that  Mr.  Sligo,  so  long  inside  out  in  his  mind, 
would  put  enough  of  it  back  again'  as  to  make  him 
take  your  letter  to  the  ladies  and  run  off  with  it  ? 
But  that  is  the  way,  "  continued  Sanco,  "that  a  good 
many  do  and  who  often  make  their  fortins  from  that 
justly  belonging  to  others.  Mr.  Sligo,  "  continued 
Sanco,  "  sometimes  talks  sensible,  and  at  them  times  I 
have  often  heard  him,  in  his  own  way,  (for  he  is 
strange  in  that)  speak  of  the  three  travellers  at  the 
Mountain  Inn,  particularly  of  }~ou  two,  and  in  such  a 
way  too  as  makes  me  believe  he  likes  you.  I  know 
him, "  continued  tianco,  "  to  be  a  great  friend  of  Miss 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  309 

Susan  and  Miss  Ellen,  and  I  don't  think  he  will  let 
any  one  else  see  your  letter,  but  that  he  will  take  it 
right  straight  to  them.  " 

"  T  hope  so,"  replied  Hyne ;  "  but  do  you  not  think 
the  ladies  will  think  strange  of  the  letter  being  in  his 
hands?" 

"Not  at  all,"  replied •  Sanco ;  "for  they  know  him 
well,  and  may  perhaps  answer  your  letter  by  him." 

"  Indeed !"  said  Laurence,  somewhat  surprised. 

"Yes,  master,"  returned  Sanco,  "and,  by  your 
permission,  I'll  go  and  find  out  something  about  it." 

At  that  remark,  Sanco  left  their  room,  and  our  two 
friends  were  again  alone. 

The  hope  renewed  by  the  remarks  of  the  servant, 
his  opinions  expressed  of  Sligo,  and  the  course  he 
would  probably  take  for  their  benefit,  seemed  to  quiet 
for  a  time  the  influence  of  suspense  upon  the  minds 
of  the  gentlemen.  They  waited  patiently  the  arrival 
of  the  dinner  hour,  when,  as  was  the  case  during  the 
morning,  no  one  might  be  at  the  table,  they  would 
have  an  uninterrupted  interview  with  Sanco.  But  in 
this  they  were  disappointed ;  for,  instead  of  being 
alone  there,  they  found  an  additional  number  of  stran- 
gers, and  the  eyes  of  all  occasionally  resting  upon 
them. 

That  air  of  consequence  usually  the  attendant  of 
the  "  would-be-great,"  was  being  shown  in  its  entire 
array  by  Mr.  Standly,  and  the  assumption  of  modest 
impudence  shown  upon  the  occasion,  called  him  into 
notice  and  attention  by  those  to  whom  he  had,  in  the 
"  bar-room,"  been  just  introduced. 

Being  like  the  "scape  goat"  in  that  crowd,  our  two 
friends,  after  being  mute  as  those  of  whom  they  were 


310  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY. 

thinking,  soon  rose  from  the  table  and  entered  their 
room. 

Laurence  and  Hyne  had  been  there  but  a  short 
time  before,  in  a  room  adjoining,  and  separated  from 
their' s  by  a  plank  partition  only,  was  overheard,  in  a 
low  tone,  the  following  conversation  : 

"The  arrival  of  those  strangers  from  New  York, 
has  created  much  of  a  change  in  things  here." 

"  That  is  very  true,"  said  Clertnont  to  Armsdale. 
"  I  wonder  what  Nevelle  and  Everett  think  now  ?" 
continued  Clermont. 

"  Think !"  replied  Armsdale,  "  Why  as  they  have 
always  thought,  since  the  affair  was  explained  to 
them." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?"  resumed  Clermont. 

"Why  that  they  are  too  noble  hearted  to  insist 
upon  having  that  which,  by  promise,  belongs  to 
others." 

At  the  close  of  that  remark,  Irwin  and  Yancey 
entered. 

"  Boys !"  said  the  latter,  "  the  Captain  says  you 
think  too  loud,  and  has  sent  me  in  to  tell  you  so." 

"  By  jingo,"  replied  Clermont,  "  that's  true  enough." 

"  The  remembrance,"  he  continued,  "  of  the  Guil- 
ford  counter-sign  must  be  present,  and  we  must  learn 
to  think  like  the  '  deaf  and  dumb]  without  speaking. 
But  say,  Yancey,"  he  continued,  in  a  lower  tone, 
"what  are  the  orders  of  the  day?  Has  the  Captain 
issued  them  to  Lieutenant  Everett  ?" 

"  The  orders  are  not  yet  issued,  but  I  expect  they 
shortly  will  be,  as  the  Lieutenant  is  in  council  with 
Captain  Nevelle  and  others,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Yancey,"  continued  Clermont,  "what  do  you  think 


THE   HEIEE3SE3   OF    FOTHERESTGAY.  311 

of  that  man,  Standly,  you  were  talking  with,  just  as 
Eufus  and  I  left  the  dining  table  ?" 

"  I  think  of  him,"  replied  Yancy,  "  as  I  do  of 
many — he  is  a  two-faced  man,  and  will  not  stop  at 
any  time  to  sacrifice  his  friends  for  the  sake  of  popu- 
larity." 

Yancy  had  scarcely  finished  his  remark  before 
Captain  lS"evelle  and  Lieutenant  Everett  entered. 
The  latter  delivered  to  each  man  a  copy  of  a  written 
order,  and  in  a  few  moments  after  the  company  dis- 
persed ;  leaving  the  Inn  to  its  usual  occupants.  Mel- 
vin,  Standly,  the  two  young  gentlemen  and  servants 
attending. 

The  conversation  overheard  and  attentively  listened 
to,  created  some  degree  of  surprise  with  Laurence 
and  Hyne.  The  cause  of  their  being  alluded  to  and 
associated  with  the  name  of  Standly  by  entire  stran- 
gers, was  unusual  as  unexpected  to  them,  and  conse- 
quently the  circumstances  with  which  all  the  remarks 
they  had  heard  were  connected,  added  another  mys- 
tery to  the  number  with  which  they  were  still  sur- 
rounded. 

It  is  said  that  "  ignorance  is  bliss."  On  this  occa- 
sion, our  young  gentlemen  proved  the  assertion.  For 
when  the  great  luminary  of  day  had  cast  his  last 
brilliant  adieu  upon  the  top  of  each  towering  moun- 
tain that  stood  in  majestic  splendor  on  each  side  of 
the  Fotheringay  mansion,  and  night  had  closed  those 
scenes  in  its  sable  attire,  their  room  resounded  with 
exhilarating,  sounds  of  delightful  music.  Thrice 
happy  are  they  who  can  thus  amuse  themselves  !  for 
it  is  sanctioned  by  the  All  Wise,  and  dissipates  many 
a  gloomy  hour. 


312  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

But,  reader,  I  must  attend  to  what  is  promised 
you. 

The  night  had  far  advanced,  when  Sanco  entered 
the  gentlemen's  room.  Polite  and  particularly  atten- 
tive as  he  had  been,  and  still  was  to  them,  he  had  no 
sooner  entered  the  apartment  than  he  began  to  adjust 
and  arrange  different  things  in  it  that  were  out  of 
order,  such  as  is  usually  the  case  in  all  bachelor 
establishments. 

If  the  ladies  do  not  believe  what  is  said  in  the  close 
of  the  last  sentence,  I'll  refer  them  to  my  brethren  in 
a  bad  cause,  as  it  is  at  best,  -to  prove  it.  And  while  a 
glance  of  the  mind  brings  in  review  our  numerous 
rank  and  file,  I  beg  leave  here  to  add,  that  the  ladies 
ought  to  take  into  consideration  how  far  they  have 
been  the  cause  of  it.  They,  it  is  true,  are  "  born  to 
be  asked  for  ;"  but  in  using  the  two  prerogatives  thus 
given  by  birth,  the  word  No  is  sometimes,  in  subse- 
quent events,  found  to  be  more  of  a  disadvantage 
than  the  word  Yes  would  have  been.  I  beg  pardon, 
however,  for  the  digression,  and  shall  proceed. 

"  Masters,"  said  Sanco,  as  he  was  putting  an  addi- 
tional supply  of  wood  to  their  fire,  "  I  love  music,  and 
it  always  does  me  good  to  come  into  your  room  while 
you  are  playing." 

"  We  thank  you  for  the  compliment,"  replied  Hyne. 
"But  tell  us, 'Sanco,  why  you  usually  call  us  'young 
masters.' 

"It  is,"  he  replied,  "  because  I  have  taken  a  liking 
to  you,  and  it  may  be  that  I  shall  one  day  belong  to 
either  pne  or  the  other  of  you.  For,  who  knows,"  he 
continued,  "but  what  master  Melvin  (who  I  like  too) 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHEKINGAY.  313 

may  some  day  or  other  change  from  what  he  now  is, 
and  in  that  change,  one  of  you  may  own  me." 

"  Such  a  thing  might  be,"  returned  Hyne,  "  but  at 
present  it  is  not  even  possible." 

"  You  don't  know,  Massa,"  replied  Sanco,  "  for 
things  very  often  take  sudden  changes." 

"  True,"  replied  Hyne,  "  but  of  this  we  will  speak 
no  more,  at  least  for  the  present.  Say,"  continued 
Hyne,  "  have  you  any  news  about  our  letter?" 

"  Yes,  Master,  that  is  all  as  it  should  be,"  replied 
Sanco. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?"  said  Hyne. 

"  Why,  Master,  that  I  was  not  mistaken  in  my 
opinions  of  Mr.  Sligo.  This  evening  I  went  to  the 
mansion,  and  while  I  was  talking  in  the  kitchen  with 
the  servants,  I  found  that  they  liked  you  and  Master 
Lawrence  as  well  as  I  do.  We  talked  a  good  deal 
about  both  of  you.  At  that  time  Miss  Susan  and  Miss 
Ellen  came  in,  and  making  a  sign  for  me  to  come  into 
the  library  before  I  went  away,  they  then  went  into 
the  house.  After  talking  an  hour  or  two  with  the  ser- 
vants, I  done  what  I  was  told  to  do,  when  Miss  Sue 
gave  me  this  note." 

Here  Sanco  handed  the  note ;  it  was  opened,  and 
read  as  follows : 

"  The  Mansion,  Jariy  20,  1802. 
"  GENTLEMEN  : — 

"  We  are  in  possession  of  a  letter  directed  to  us,  but 
from  the  person  (Mr.  Sligo)  by  whom  delivered,  are 
not  of  the  opinion  that  you  intended  it  by  him,  nor 
that  we  have,  from  that  circumstance,  a  right  to  open 


314  THE    HEIRESSES    OF   FOTHEEIXGAY. 

it,     We  send  this  to  you  by  Sanco,  who  is  authorized 
to  bring  to  us  your  answer. 

"  Kespectmlly, 

"  ELLEN, 
"  SUSAN." 

"  Messrs.  Laurence  and  Hyne, 
"  Mountain  Inn." 

If  such  a  thing  can  be  at  the  same  moment  in  the 
human  mind  as  pleasure  and  pain,  it  was  then  so  with 
the  gentlemen.  For,  in  the  first  instance,  they  were 
pleased  that  their  letter  had  escaped  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  confederates,  and  in  the  next  mortified  at 
its  having  been  taken  from  them  by  Sli  go.  Soon 
after  they  had  read  the  note  of  the  ladies  to  them,  the 
following  reply  was  penned  : 

"  The  Inn,  at  night,  Jarfy  20,  1802. 
"  LADIES  : 

"  We  regret  to  say  that  the  letter  intended  for  you 
was  not  presented  by  the  hand  of  another  than  that 
by  which  it  was.  Please  read  it,  and  honor  us  with 
your  reply. 

"  Yery  resptf 'y,  your  obt.  ser'ts, 

"GEORGE  L.  LAURENCE, 
"  SAM.  L.  HYNE." 
"  To  Misses  Susan  and  Ellen  Dierdoffe." 

The  next  evening,  and  as  soon  as  he  had  gotten 
through  with  his  duties  of  waiting  upon  the  gentle- 
men and  others  at  table,  Sanco  went'  to  the  Mansion, 
and  on  his  return  brought  the  following  letter : 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  315 

"  The  Mansion,  Jarfy  21,  1802. 
"  GENTLEMEN  : 

"  At  your  sanction  we  have  opened  your  letter  to 
us  of  yesterday.  ~ 

"  Possessed  and  in  the  practice  of  that  quality  of 
the  heart  of  which  you  speak,  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
borrowed  sentence  made  use  of  in  your  appeal  for 
reinstatement,  we  entertain  no  hesitation  in  saying, 
that  your  frank  acknowledgment  of  error,  and  your 
intention  to  do  as  you  have  done  no  more,  have  gained 
our  forgiveness  of  the  past ;  while  now,  as  in  the 
future,  you  are  reinstated  to  that  rank  occupied  by 
you,  and  which,  when  it  was  lost,  you  were  the 
fault  of. 

"  At  your  earliest  convenience  the  pleasure  of  see- 
ing you  will  be  shown  by 

"ELLEN. 

"  SUSAN." 
"  To  Messrs.  Laurence  &  Hyne,  Mountain  Inn." 

Having  relieved  our  young  gentlemen  from  their 
present  difficulties,  restored  them  to  favor  and  to  re- 
newed hopes  of  earthly  bliss;  and,  consequently, 
complied  with,  my  promise  to  you,  reader,  I  shall, 
by  your  permission,  close  the  present  and  commence 
the  next  chapter  with  new  material,  as  well  as  a  con- 
tinued desire  to  amuse  and  interest  you 


316  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

No   time   is   more  properly  spent  by  men   than  when    in    pursuit   of 
virtuous  objects. 

THERE  is,  perhaps,  at  no  period  of  life  an  event 
more  pleasing  than  that  of  an  assurance  that  the  affec- 
tions of  an  honorable  man  are  being  reciprocated  and 
accepted  by  the  opposite  sex. 

At  such  a  time  the  latter  voluntarily  resigns  the 
prerogative  of  self-government,  concentrates  the  entire 
of  all  in  the  looked-for  supremacy  of  her  liege  lord, 
in  whose  keeping  is  placed  her  future  destiny ;  and 
to  whose  capital  of  wisdom,  discretion  and  command, 
she  relies  with  implicit  confidence  in  the  future  of 
good  and  ill. 

How  far  this  truth  is  abused  by  my  sex,  gentle 
reader,  is  left  for  yourselves  to  judge  of,  and  my  fel- 
low men  to  reflect  upon. 

The  letter  of  the  ladies  formed  a  new  platform  for 
action  in  the  minds  of  their  admirers;  and,  the  day 
following  its  receipt,  our  gentlemen  presented  them- 
selves at  the  mansion.  They  had  been  in  the  parlor 
but  a  few  minutes,  before  the  entry  in  it  of  the  ladies. 
A  pleasant  smile  occupied  the  countenances,  of  each 
as  they  entered,  when,  at  the  same  moment  their 
books  were  respectively  presented  to  the  gentlemen ; 
containing  a  like  and  following  sentence : — 

"You  have  erred  and  have  acknowledged  it.  I 
have  forgiven  the  wrong  done.  Rely  upon  the  future 
as  being  intended  and  practiced  for  your  good  by  me." 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  317 

A  recurrence  was  soon  made  by  the  parties  re- 
spectively, to  that  which  is  already  familiar  to  the 
mind  of  my  readers.  In  that  interview,  everything 
relative  to  and  necessary  in  the  intended  elopement 
was  entered  into  and  agreed  upon,  save  the  engage- 
ment of  the  sons  of  Sligo,  and  arrangement  of  that 
part  that  Sanco  was  to  perform  in  it.  These  were  left 
to  the  judgment  and  skill  of  the  gentlemen. 

The  moon  in  its  placid  serenity,  had  assumed  its 
refulgence  of  light,  and  aided  by  it  our  now  refugees, 
from  tyranny  and  obstinate  refusal,  were  now  deter- 
mined to  place  themselves  under  the  protection  of 
those  to  whom  they  had  vowed  an  inseparable  alle- 
giance. 

The  better  to  effect  their  purpose  a  convenience  for 
leaving  the  Mansion,  had  been  thought  of  by  the  ladies. 

At  the  eastern  wing  of  the  building,  and  in  its 
second  story,  there  was  a  small  balcony  that  over- 
looked a  beautiful  view  of  the  river,  as  it  passed  in  its 
meandering  course  through  the  valley  below.  In  its 
course,  it  was  crossed  at  intervals  by  the  blazed  path- 
way that  had  previously  led  our  travellers  to  the 
Mountain  Inn. 

To  retrace  that  route  in  their  contemplated  escape 
from  the  mountains,  and  then,  "Far  West,"  would  be 
attended,  as  the  ladies  had  informed  their  intended, 
with  dangerous  consequences,  for  two  ostensible  rea- 
sons. One  consequent  upon  the  want  of  "ferry," 
facilities  in  the  then  sudden  rise  of  the  river — the 
other,  because  those  passes  being  the  first,  upon  a 
knowledge  of  their  absence,  to  which  the  attention  of 
Urnsden  and  others  would  be  drawn. 

In  furtherance  of  their  plans  for  escape,  it  was  stipu- 


318  THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERLNGAY. 

lated  between  the  parties,  that  the  ladies  should  come 
upon  the  piazza  at  the  hour  of  twelve  o'clock  on  the 
night  agreed  upon.  From  whence  they  were  to  de- 
scend by  means  of  a  rope-ladder.  That  article  was  to 
be  sent  them  and  received  from  the  bearer  at  the  en- 
trance-door of  the  library.  The  trust  thus  reposed 
was  to  be  assigned  to  one  of  the  young  Slygo's,  who, 
in  order  to  prevent  suspicion,  was  to  appear  there,  as 
if  in  search  of  his  father,  and  to  have  their  intended 
means  of  descent,  concealed  in  an  overcoat  pretended 
to  be  for  the  old  man. 

The  better  to  effect  his  purpose,  Sligo  was  to  appear 
at  the  door  spoken  of,  at  the  same  time  that  Sanco  was 
to  do  so  in  the  act  of  returning  the  instruments  already 
known  something  of  by  my  readers.  Another  care 
assigned  Sligo  was,  to  attend  the  ladies  on  their  de- 
scent, take  charge  of  their  baggage,  and  to  conduct 
their  fair  charge  to  the  place  designated  for  meeting 
the  gentlemen. 

The  duties  assigned  Sanco  was,  to  attend  to  and 
Lave  the  horses  of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  in  readi- 
ness, and  stationed  at  the  appointed  hour  at  a  few 
hundred  yards  from  the  Mansion,  and  concealed  from 
its  view  by  a  thicket  of  cedars  that  stood  near  the 
commencement  of  their  intended  route.  There  the 
gentlemen  were  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  ladies,  and 
from  whence  the  party  was  to  take  its  departure  for  a 
section  of  country  more  densely  inhabited,  and  where 
the  parties  thus  betrothed  were  to  be  united. 

The  plan  matured  and  settled  upon  at  the  Mansion, 
our  ladies  bade  their  lovers  adieu  at  a  late  hour  that 
evening,  and  our  two  friends  returned  to  the  Inn. 

Like  the  father  of  the  "prodigal  son,"  each  of  the 


THE   11EIKE3SES   OF   FOTHEKINGAY.  319 

gentlemen  in  question  had  had  given  to  them  by  their 
fathers  a  sum  sufficient,  at  setting  out  upon  their 
western  tour,  to  answer  their  purposes  in  being  above 
want,  and  to  let  them  appear  and  act  gentlemanly  and 
genteel,  as  all  should  do,  who  are  endowed  with  ability 
and  thought  beyond  that  of  an  idiot.  Added  to  the 
supplies  given  to  Laurence  and  Hyne,  was  a  fund, 
separately  placed  in  the  hands  of  their  fellow-traveller, 
and  once  looked  upon  friend,  Standly,  for  the  purpose 
of  serving  such  necessary  as  honorable  contingencies 
as  might  occur  in  their  journey  to  the  West  and  upon 
their  return  home. 

So  far  as  the  necessary  means  for  carrying  out 
their  purpose  was  concerned,  the  gentlemen  were  in- 
dependent of  Mr.  Standly,  and  the  next  object  of 
their  attention  was  to  procure  horses  for  their  contem- 
plated guides  through  the  mountains. 

As  yet  the  expected  letter  to  them,  upon  that  sub- 
ject, from  the  ladies,  had  not  been  received.  It  was 
upon  that  that  their  introduction  to,  and  engagement 
of  their  guides,  depended;  and  two  days  having 
passed  and  no  letter,  the  gentlemen  began  to  think 
some  unforeseen  preventive  had  occurred  to  getting 
the  persons  selected  for  that  duty.  The  third  eve- 
ning, however,  relieved  them  of  a  suspense,  in  which 
each  moment  seemed  to  be  an  hour,  with  the  interest 
of  a  half  attached,  when,  in  a  short  time  after  tea,  a 
rap  was  heard  at  their  door. 

The  gentlemen  knew  the  rap.  It  was  that  of  the 
servant,  and  in  the  next  moment  Sanco  entered  fol- 
lowed by  the  two  yonng  Sligo's.  At  their  entry,  the 
servant,  in  the  exercise  of  that  politeness  to  which  he 
had  been  raised  and  was  accustomed  to,  said :  "  Mas- 


320  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

ters,  the   Misters   Sligo, "  then,  placing  a  chair   for 
each,  withdrew. 

Here  the  elder  of  the  two  presented  a  letter  to  Lau- 
rence that  read  as  follows : 

"  The  Mansion,  Jan'y  24,  1802. 
"  GENTLEMEN  : 

"  We  introduce  to  your  acquaintance  the  bearer 
hereof,  and  his  brother;  Messrs.  Mansfield  and  Stan- 
hope Sligo,  in  compliance  with  our  promise  to  you 
of  some  days  since,  and  for  the  delay  in  doing-  so, 
the  earnest  with  which  we  have  thus  far  complied 
with  your  wishes  must  alone  plead  our  excuse. 

"It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  the  persons  now  be- 
fore you  are  recommended  to  your  esteem  and  confi- 
dence, in  events  in  which  you  as  well  as  ourselves, 
are  so  much  involved,  and  in  which  so  much  depends 
upon  you  as  well  as  those  who  now  write. 

"Thinking,  as  we  have,  that  it  was  a  duty  incum- 
bent upon  us  to  facilitate  your  designs  and  let  our 
acts  prove  the  earnest  with  which  we  have  entered 
into  them  to  effect  mutual  ends,  we  have,  on  our  parts, 
gone  so  far  as  to  have  sent  for  and  apprize  those  of 
whom  spoken,  of  what  is  sought  for  at  their  hands ; 
that  they  have  kindly,  as  generously  promised  to  per- 
form. And  to  enable  them  the  better  to  do  so,  we 
have  presumed  so  far  upon  your  sanction  of  the  mea- 
sure, as  to  have  directed  them  to  purchase  a  fine 
horse,  saddle  and  bridle  each. 

"The  (as  the  vain  would  say)  '  crime  of  poverty1  be- 
ing theirs,  and  having  neither  friends  nor  means  by 
which  to  do  so,  we  have  directed  them  to  select  their 
steeds  and  equipments,  passing  them  our  words  that 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEBINGAY.  321 

you  would  afford  them  the  amounts  required  to  com- 
plete their  arrangements. 

"  In  furtherance  of  our  plan,  and  to  avoid  further 
concern  and  trouble  to  you,  the  two,  and  our  mutual 
friends  before  you,  have  kindly  offered  to  provide  the 
rope  and  make  a  ladder  for  our  means  of  descent  from 
the  balcony. 

"But,  oh!  should  it  break  in  our  present  last  pro- 
ceeding steps  to  place  ourselves  under  your  care,  how 
ominous  of  ills  would  it  be !  These  thoughts,  how- 
ever, are  not  only  idle,  but  a  proof  of  the  timidity 
natural  to  our  sex,  and  must,  by  us  be  done  away 
with,  in  view  of  the  happiness  so  dearly  contemplated 
upon ;  while,  in  the  meantime,  we  must  proceed  with 
what  remains  on  the  present  occasion  for  us  to  ap- 
prise you  of. 

"  Of  our  wardrobe  we  have  thought  best,  to  take  but 
little,  as  our  wants  in  that  particular,  can,  with  more 
ease  than  the  present,  inconvenience  of  taking  it,  be 
supplied  when  needed.  On  arriving  at  our  place  of 
destination,  and  particularly  when  in  our  necessitated 
mode  of  travelling  it  would  be  an  unnecessary  incum- 
brance. 

"  For  our  convenience,  and  to  secure  that,  we  shall 
take  of  apparel,  our  friends  have  already  provided 
for  us,  an  old,  and  it  is  true,  much  worn,  valise,  that 
in  travelling  as  we  suppose,  you  can  attach  to  your 
saddles  without  inconvenience. 

"  Of  Sanco,  it  is  only  necessary  here  to  say,  that  he 
understands  us  as  well  as  he  does  you ;  and  that  nothing 
will  be. wanting  on  his  part,  to  prove  his  fidelity  to  the 
cause  of  the  fugitives. 

"  It  is  said,  that  woman  is  more  of  an  adept  in  device 
21 


<?22  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

and  effecting  her  purpose  in  them,  than  is  the  case  in 
your  sex ;  how  far  this  may  or  may  not  be  substan- 
tiated in  events  passed  and  those  to  come,  remains,  so 
far  as  we  are  concerned,  for  your  judgment  and  opin- 
ions expressed,  to  determine. 

"All  is  now  in  readiness — night  after  to-morrow 
night  be  on  the  alert — make  your  appearance  at  the 
mansion  no  more,  at  least  for  the  present;  and  until 
you  shall  do  so  (if  ever)  when  all  will  be  better  for 
you  and  us,  than  it  is  now. 

"  We  can  now  order,  but  subsequently  expect  to  be 
ordered.  The  reverse  at  the  latter  is  now  ours,  and 
while  so,  we  say  to  you,  be  at  your  posts  at  the  proper 
time,  where  rely  upon  being  joined  with  much  plea- 
sure by, 

"Very  truly  yours, 

"  ELLEN, 
"  SUSAN." 

"To  Messrs  Laurence  and  Hyne,  Mountain  Inn." 

The  two  young  men  sent  to  them  were  treated  with 
much  kindness  and  respect  by  Laurence  and  Hyne; 
and  by  way  of  a  proof  of  the  confidence  reposed  in 
them,  spoke  familiarly  upon  preceding,  present  and 
future  events  till  a  late  hour. 

The  several  amounts  spoken  of  by  the  ladies,  and 
for  which  they  had  become  indirectly  responsible,  to 
be  paid  for  their  horses,  and  other  equipage,  was  that 
night  placed  into  the  hands  of  the  elder  of  the 
brothers — Mansfield  Sligo;  and,  after  an  understand- 
ing upon  what  was  to  be  paid  each  one  for  his  ser- 
vices as  conductor,  the  young  men  rose  from  their 
seats,  with  an  intention  of  departure  for  their  home. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEEINGAY.  323 

"  Be  seated,"  said  Hyne,  "  till  we  write  a  line  to 
the  ladies  by  you  ;"  and  in  a  few  moments,  the  follow- 
ing note  was  handed  to  Mansfield : — 

"  The  Inn,  Jariy  24,  1802 
"  LADIES — 

"  That  part  of  your  letter  requiring  of  us  an  imme- 
diate compliance  with,  is  completed. 

"  That  of  which  it  speaks  as  yet  to  come,  and  upon 
which  we  acknowledge  your  right  of  command  in,  as 
well  as  instruction,  shall  with  equal  promptness  be 
complied  with,  at  the  time  appointed. 

"Adieu,  for  the  present;  and,  in- the  mean  time, 
believe  us  sincerely  yours, 

"  GEO.  L.  LAURENCE. 
"SAM.  L.  HYNE." 

"  To  Misses  Susan  and  Ellen  Dierdoffe — The  Man- 
sion." 

The  interpose  between  writing  their  note  and  the 
hour  they  were  notified  to  be  in  readiness  at  the 
station  assigned  them,  was  employed  by  the  gentle- 
men in  arranging  things  with  them  necessary  for 
departure. 

Although  assured  that  Sancho  (using  an  expression 
of  the  present  day)  was  "  all  right,"  it  was  a  duty  due 
to  themselves,  if  no  other,  (as  he  had  been  their  body 
servant,  and  from  whom-  they  had  received  several 
hints  of  his  friendship  and  esteem)  to  sound  his 
fidelity,  and  to  know,  if  possible,  if  the  information 
of  danger,  and  their  safety  in  it,  could  be  trusted  to 
his  keeping. 

The  night  preceding  the  one  of  their  intended  de- 


32-i  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

parture  from  the  Mountain  Inn,  Sanco,  agreeable  to 
previous  arrangements  with  young  Slygo,  went  into 
the  room  of  the  gentlemen  for  the  purpose  of  getting 
and  returning  the  musical  instruments  to  the  place 
from  whence  they  had  been  received.  While  in  the 
room,  he  was  directed  to  return  there,  as  soon  as  he 
had  performed  the  business  he  was  then  upon. 

"  Yes,  masters,"  replied  Sanco,  and  soon  he  closed 
the  door  of  that  room  in  which  our  two  friends  had 
now  but  a  short  time  to  be  and  remain  in  as  gentle- 
men travellers,  and  ere  long,  as  fugitives  from  a  sup- 
posed oppressor. 

"The  wheels  of  time  seemed  clogged  and  their 
movements  appear  slow  indeed,  when  thought,  more 
swift  than  the  winged  rays  of  light  itself,  encompasses 
its  entire  boundary  of  desire,  and  there  waits  a  renewal 
of  purpose,"  said  Hyne,  as  the  two  friends  sat,  each 
involved  in  his  own  round  of  reflection. 

"  To-morrow  night,"  he  continued,  "will  be  the  com- 
mencement of  difficulties  to  which  we,  as  well  as  those 
who  now  look  to  us  for  protection,  are  alike  unaccus- 
tomed. Our  prize,  however,  is  invaluable,  and  that 
alone,  must  be  the  stimulus  to  the  entire  possession  of 
it;  no  matter  what  obstacles  are  placed  in  our  way." 

"  You  reason  well !  and  see  to  it,  that  you  fail  not," 
replied  Laurence,  as  the  two  were  examining  each  a 
brace  of  fine  rifle  barrelled  pistols,  which  they  had 
taken  from  their  holsters,  then  lying  on  the  table. 

Soon  after  cleaning,  loading,  and  returning  the  intr la- 
ments of  death  to  their  proper  places,  Sanco  entered 
the  room. 

"Well,  Sanco,"  said  Hyne,  "  what  news  have  you?" 

"All's  right,  master,"  replied  Sanco. 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  325 

I    • 

"How?"  asked  Hyne. 

"  Why,"  replied  Sanco,  "  I  delivered  the  instru- 
ments, and  Mr.  Sligo,  the  rope-ladder  safely,  and 
without  any  person  seeing  us,  but  Miss  Ellen  and 
Miss  Susan." 

"  Then  you  know,"  said  Hyne,  "  what  is  going  on  at 
at  the  mansion  ?" 

"Yes,  master,  well,"  replied  Sanco. 

"Who,"  inquired  Hyne,  "informed  you  of  it?" 

"I  understand  signs,  masters,  and  they  were  plain 
ones,  given  to  me  by  Miss  Ellen  and  Miss  Susan." 

"  Are  their  signs  more  plain  to  you,  than  they  are 
to  others,"  said  Hyne. 

"  Perhaps  not,  master,  but  I  know  the  ways  of  the 
ladies  so  well,  and  besides,  they  make  signs  and  tell 
me  by  them  who  they  like." 

"  Then,  asked  Hyne,  "  you  know  that  we  love 
them?" 

"  I  do,  master,"  replied  Sanco,"  and  know,  too,  that 
they  love  you  I" 

"What,"  said  Hyne,  "do  you  think  of  theirs  and 
our  plan  ?" 

"  First  rate,  master,"  replied  Sanco.  "  And,"  con- 
tinued he,  "  excuse  me  for  saying,  that  if  my  brother 
and  I  were  white  men,  and  had  such  fine  looking 
ladies  as  Miss  Susan  and  Miss  Ellen,  in  love  with  us, 
and  were  sure  of  our  chance  of  getting  them,  as  yours 
are  of  getting  these  ladies,  we  would  think  we  were 
entering  heaven,  or  some  place  near  to  it  when  we  got 
them." 

"  You  then  have  a  good  opinion  of  the  ladies,"  con- 
tinued Hyne. 

"  That's  true,   master,   for    I  nursed   them  when 


326  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY. 

children,  and  know  well  they  will  make  good  wives, 
for  they  can  make  mighty  nice  shirts,  and  can  knit 
stockings,  too.  And,  let  me  tell  you,"  continued  Sanco, 
"  that  they  can  cut  pants  and  vests,  and  then  make 
tliem  as  well  as  any  tailor  can.  And  I  believe,  if  it 
was  necessary,  could  make  their  husbands  a  coat. 
When  you  get  them,  you  will  not,  I  think,  put  them 
to  that  kind  of  work,  but  will,  no  doubt,  require  of 
them  a  proper  supervision  and  control  of  their  domestic 
concerns." 

"  Did  you  not  say  just  now,  that  you  nursed  the 
ladies  ?"  said  Hyne. 

"I  did,  master;  but  that  was  at  a  time  (as  I  told 
you  the  other  night)  when  things  were  different  with 
me  to  what  they  are  now." 

"Do  you  know,"  said  Hyne,  "that  you  are  con- 
cerned in  the  plot  of  ours  to  run  off  with  the  young 
ladies?" 

"Yes,  master,  and  know  from  signs  given,  what 
part  I  have  to  perform  in  it,"  replied  Sanco.  "  And 
depend  upon  it,"  continued  he,  "that  I  shall  have 
your  horses  in  readiness,  and  your  holsters  and  sad- 
dle-bags put  in  their  proper  places  upon  your  saddles." 

The  gentlemen  being  convinced  that  Sanco  spoke 
knowingly  as  confidentially  upon  the  several  topics  to 
which  an  advertence  had  been  made,  placed  each, 
twenty  dollars,  in  silver,  in  his  hands,  when  the  faith- 
ful creature,  smiling  as  he  spoke,  thanked  them  and 
withdrew. 


THE  HEIRESSES  OF  FOTHERINGAY.  327 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 

THE   ELOPEMENT. 

Locks  are  good  in  their  places  and  sometimes  a  protection  against 
thieves :  but  with  Master  Cupid,  are  like  a  mist  before  the  sun  on  a  May 
morning. 

MUCH  of  that  sort  of  feeling  usually  the  attendant 
of  reflection  upon  those  we  love  and  by  whom  we  an- 
ticipate the  completion  of,  not  only  our  dearest  hopes, 
but  fondest  wishes,  occupied  the  minds  mutually  of 
our  now  about  to  be  fugitive  lovers  during  the  day, 
and  until  twelve  that  night  on  which  their  intended 
elopement  took  place. 

The  day  passed;  night  came  on;  suppers,  more 
partaken  of  from  dishes  of  anxiety  seasoned  with  sus- 
pense, than  from  good  cups  of  coffee,  with  bread  and 
animal  food,  were  soon  over  with  them,  and  each  one 
in  their  respective  apartments,  were  counting  the  steps 
of  aged  Time  as  he  slowly  as  leisurely  moved  onward 
to  the  appointed  hour. 

What  would  have  been  your  feelings,  on  the  eve 
of  such  an  event ;  and  what,  you  may  now  be  asking, 
was  the  result  ?  Allow  me  a  similar  favor  (your  in- 
dulgence) as  heretofore  obtained,  and  you  shall  see, 
reader. 

The  hour  at  length  arrived,  and  in  it — 

"  The  midnight  hour  serenely  smiled 
O'er  nature's  soft  repose  ; 
No  lowering  cloud  obscured  the  sky, 
Nor  ruffling  tempest  blowed." 


328  THE   HEIRESSES  OF  FOTHER1NGAY. 

The  language  of  the  poet  was  well  adapted  to  the 
scene  presented  on  the  occasion  of  which  we  are  now 
speaking.  Nor  was  that  all ;  for,  added  to  it  was  the 
silent  attention  of  inanimate -and  animated  nature, 
giving,  as  it  were,  their  benediction  upon  passing 
events,  disturbed  only  by  the  rustle  of  a  southern 
breeze,  then  passing  through  the  lofty  pines  and  com- 
pact cedars. 

It  was  then  lovers  own  hour  !  and  in  it,  all  that  force 
of  action,  the  impetus  as  result  of  influence,  was 
being  brought  to  and  cast  upon  the  shrine  of  prefer- 
ment. 

But,  reader,  I  forget  my  promise  and  desire,  and 
for  your  sake  will  proceed. 

That  signal  used  on  a  former  occasion,  and  more 
strikingly  impressive  than  the  one  we  are  now  speak- 
ing of,  was  given. 

The  cock  crowed ! 

"  Come,  "Will,"  said  Sanco  to  his  brother,  "  it  is 
now  near  the  hour  when  our  young  mistresses  and  our 
young  masters  are  to  meet.  You,  as  well  as  myself 
and  sister  Sallie,  are  alike  in  the  secrets  of  Miss  Ellen 
and  Miss  Susan.  We  must  do  our  duty,  and  not 
deny  them  the  performance  of_it.  You  go  to  the 
mansion — wake  Sally,  and  tell  her  to  wake  the  ladies, 
while  I  go  to  the  gentlemen's  room.  After  you  have 
done  that,"  continued  Sanco,  "  meet  me  and  the  Mis- 
ters Sligo  at  the  stable,  where  they  are  in  the  loft, 
asleep." 

"  A  good  sign,  masters !  for  if  a  man  can  sleep  well 
in  the  midst  of  danger,  it  shows  all  right  at  heart,"  as 
the  faithful  servant  gently  tapped  each  upon  the 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEEINGAY.  329 

shoulder,  and  as  each  gentleman  sprung  from  their 
bed. 

"  We  <nght  to  sleep  well,  Sanco,"  replied  Hyne, 
"  when  we  have  so  faithful  and  kind  a  watchman  over 
us  as  you  are." 

"  I  thank  you,  master,  for  your  good  opinion,"  re- 
•turned  Sanco.  "  I  never  wish  a  iy  watch-tour  of  mine 
to  be  more  pleasant  than  the  present  one  is  to  me. 
But  there  are  dangers  ahead  for  you  to  encounter, 
and  if,"  continued  Sanco,  "I  ever  watch  over  you 
again,  it  may  be  in  more  pain  and  anxiety  than  in 
my  present  duty  of  that  kind." 

Thus  saying,  he  took  their  saddle-bags  and  holsters, 
when  lightly  retracing  his  steps  from  their  room,  was 
soon  at  the  stable,  followed  shortly  after  by  the  gen- 
tlemen from  their  domicil,  who  were  soon  also  at  their 
post,  according  to  order  of,  reader,  I  need  not  tell  you 
who. 

At  twelve  o'clock  the  ladies,  dressed  in  the  costume 
heretofore  mentioned,  made  their  appearance  upon 
the  balcony,  accompanied  by  their  faithful  servant 
maid,  Sally,  who,  cautiously  lowering  their  means  of 
descent,  and  fastening  the  upper  ends  of  the  ladder  to 
the  post  of  the  piazza,  shook  hands  with  them,  and 
one  after  the  other  of  the  ladies  were  shortly  after  in 
safety  upon  the  ground.  That  done,  the  servant,  by 
means  of  another  rope,  lowered  their  baggage,  when, 
in  the  next  moment,  our  ladies  being  their  own 
porters,  seized  their  valises,  and  were  soon  out  of 
the  mansion,  and  being  joined  by  the  young  Sligos, 
were  on  their  way  either  to  be  commanded,  or  to  as- 
sume pantomimic  control  of  the  captives  led  captive. 

As  a  natural  consequence,  as  long  as  their  maid 


330  TPIE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHEEINGAY. 

servant  could  see  them,  they  were  gazed  upon  with 
anxious  hope — then  drawing  up  the  ladder,  unfastened 
it,  and  with  it,  in  her  possession,  returned  to  her  bed 
unnoticed. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  ladies  at  the  cedar  thicket 
mentioned,  they  found  the  gentlemen  in  readiness  to 
attend  them.  Sanco,  at  a  few  steps  distant,  having 
hold  of  the  bridle-reins  of  each  horse,  the  two  Sligos 
took  theirs,  and  the  gentlemen  a  hold  of  theirs,  while 
Sanco,  still  holding  the  ladies'  horses,  the  young 
Sligos  fastened  the  valises  of  their  fair  charges  to  the 
hind  part  of  the  gentlemen's  saddles.  Here  the  ladies 
went  to  where  their  horses  were,  and  then  returned  to 
the  gentlemen. 

At  that  arrangement,  those  of  the  party  who  could, 
and  perhaps  my  readers  may  here  allow  me  the  privi- 
lege to  add,  dare  give  utterance  to  their  thoughts  were 
all  wrapped  in  profound  silence.  Here  one  of  the 
ladies  giving  a  sign  to  Sanco,  he  advanced  and  spread- 
ing his  cloak  before  them,  they  both  kneeling  upon  it, 
were  for  some  minutes  engaged  in  prayer. 

While  the  ladies  were  engaged  at  their  mute,  yet 
sincere  devotion  before  Him  who  sees  and  knows  the 
thoughts  of  all,  and  in  earnest  solicitation  for  their 
protection, -Hyne  discovered  their  horses  had  been  left 
unattended,  and  calling  the  attention  of  Sanco  to  it, 
without  returning  to  them,  he  replied  in  a  low  tone  of 
voice,  "Ah,  master!  be  not  alarmed  at  that,  Gallant 
and  Swift  know  their  mistresses  are  here,  and  though 
unattended,  are  too  well  accustomed  to  the  command 
of  their  owners  to  move  from  where  they  are  standing 
till  mounted  by  Miss  Ellen  and  Miss  Susan." 

By  the  time  Sanco  had  finished  his  remarks,  the 


THE   HEIKE3SES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  331 

ladies  had  finished  their  invocation,  and  rising,  made 
signs  to  the  gentlemen,  that  they  were  ready  for 
departure.  At  that  signal,  Sanco,  speaking  to  the 
horses,  they  came  to  where  the  ladies  were  standing, 
when  tapping  their  knees  with  a  slight  touch  of  the 
riding-whip,  the  noble  animals,  understanding  the 
signals,  were  instantly  on  their  knees  before  their  well- 
known  riders,  who  in  the  next  moment  were  on  their 
backs. 

None  were  present  to  give  the  adieu  to  but  one, 
and  he  taking  their  hands,  with  a  tear  in  his  eye,  that 
glistened  as  the  light  of  the  moon  reflected  upon  his 
honest  countenance,  and  each  bowed  the  adieu  to 
him,  and  soon  the  party  was  on  its  way  through  the 
mountain. 

One  of  their  routes  among  others,  necessary  on 
their  journey,  led  over  the  "  Pebble  Peak, "  and  when 
they  had  arrived  at  the  spot  where,  at  a  time  long 
since  passed,  the  dead  had  been  deposited,  the  ladies 
halted  and  gazed  for  a  few  minutes  upon  the  solemn 
scene.  Then  giving  another  signal  they  were  soon 
out  of  sight  of  that  hallowed  spot,  and  far  removed 
from  the  mansion  and  its  comforts,  were  wanderers 
amidst  the  defiles  of  lofty  mountains. 

Such  is  the  devotion  of  woman's  heart  to  man ! 
Why  is  it  not  better  reciprocated  ? 

That  night  our  party  travelled  but  a  short  distance 
before  the  guides,  knowing  well  their  duty,  halted  at 
the  door  of  a  backwoodsman's  hut,  with  whom  they 
were  personally  acquainted,  and-  where  they  arrived 
about  daylight  the  next  morning,  and  continued  there 
until  the  night  of  that  day  should  arrive. 

At  that  humble  abode,  more  pleasant  on  that  occa- 


332  THE   HEIRE3SE3   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY. 

sion,  and  under  the  circumstances,  than  doubtless  a 
palace  would  have  been,  deprived  of  their  wishes  as 
dearest  hopes,  the  ladies  were  provided  with  and  oc- 
cupied a  neat  as  comfortable  separate  apartment ;  and 
after  partaking  of  a  good  breakfast  retired  for  the 
purpose  of  sleep. 

The  gentlemen  and  their  guides  occupying  another, 
small  apartment  soon  followed  their  example,  while 
their  horses  were  well  attended  to  by  their  hospitable 
host. 

Here,  reader,  according  to  my  accustomed  defer- 
ence to  you,  I  again,  after  repeated  requests  of  a  simi- 
lar kind  of  you,  ask  your  permission  to  leave  our 
fugitives  in  your  mind's  keeping  for  the  present,  to 
return  for  a  while  to  the  Mansion  and  to  the  Moun- 
tain Inn. 

Sanco  had  reached  the  Inn,  and  having  gone  to  the 
stable,  in  accordance  to  instructions  received,  broke 
into  atoms  the  lock  of  its  door.  That  done,  and 
retaining  the  key  of  it,  he  returned  to  the  Inn,  and 
safely  locking  each  outer  door  of  that  establishment, 
laid  himself  down  to  take  the  balance  of  that  night 
out  in  sleep. 

The  next  morning  the  windows  of  the  gentlemen's 
apartment  were  found  open,  and  the  entrance  door  of 
the  library,  at  the  mansion,  unlocked. 

Upon  whom  suspicion  could  rest  save  in  the  minds 
of  those  who  were  privy  to  the  acts  of  the  preceding 
night,  no  certainty  could  be  arrived  at.  The  faithful 
Sanco,  true  to  the  trust  reposed  in  him,  and  in  order 
to  prevent  pursuit  as  long  as  possible,  devised  and 
suggested  all  sorts  of  policy  to  that  effect :  so  that  and 
the  next  day  were  spent  in  going  from. .neighbor  to 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERINGAY.  333 

neighbor  in  useless  attempts  to  learn  if  the  fugitives 
might  not  have  passed  that  way. 

Upon  searching  the  rooms  of  the  respective  fugi- 
tives, the  letter  of  the  gentlemen  to  the  ladies  of  the 
24th  of  January  was  found  in  a  drawer  in  Ellen  and 
Susan's  apartment.  That,  though  not  positive,  was 
thought  circumstantial  evidence  sufficient  to,  (in  case 
they  were  overtaken  before  marriage  had  taken  place 
between  the  two  parties)  predicate  an  arrest  and  impri- 
sonment upon,  and  the  next  step  resorted  to  by  Urns- 
den,  and  in  which  he  was  sustained  by  the  opinions  of 
Melvin  and  Standly,  was  to  send  for  and  engage  the 
assistance  of  Captain  ISTevelle  and  his  company  of 
Regulators.  W 

The  aid  just  spoken  of  being  obtained,  Justee 
Catchpenny  was  forthwith  sent  for.  This  learned  dig- 
nitary, more  famed  for  charges  and  fees  than  that  of 
legal  knowledge,  came,  and  upon  his  arrival  at  the 
mansion,  made  many  would-be-wise  as  unnecessary 
inquiries.  Then  issuing  his  warrant  of  arrest,  received 
the  prime  object  of  his  visit  there,  viz. :  Thirty  dollars, 
and  making  a  respectful  bow,  not  so  much  out  of  con- 
cern for  the  persons  present,  as  from  a  knowledge  of 
his  unexpected  good  fortune,  withdrew. 

The  orders  of  the  gentlemanly  captain  of  the  ban- 
el  its  were  that  day  issued  to  his  no  less  honorable  com- 
mand ;  and  the  following  morning  the  search  for,  with 
the  view  of  arrest  of,  the  fugitive  lovers,  was  entered 
upon. 

The  respective  crossings  of  the  river,  as  had  been 
previously  suggested,  were  the  first  objects  attracting 
the  attention  of  the  command,  but  finding  no  signs 
nor  traces  of  horse-tracks  thereto,  the  search  on  those 


334  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

routes  was  soon  abandoned.  At  length  one  of  the 
company  was  ordered  to  the  stable  of  the  Mountain 
Inn,  from  whence  the  tracks  of  six  horses  were  traced 
to  the  pine  thicket  already  spoken  of.  On  his  report, 
the  whole  company  moved  to  the  spot,  from  whence 
the  tracks  of  the  horses  were  trailed,  till  coming  to  a 
rocky  and  shallow  ravine,  that  ran  for  several  miles 
through  a  narrow  vale,  that  lay  between  two  large 
mountains,  the  tracks  were  lost  sight  of. 

It  was  then  near  nightfall,  and  Captain  Nevelle 
ordering  four  of  his  men  to  proceed,  himself  and  Lieu- 
tenant Everett  returned  to  the  mansion,  from  whence 
they  were  to  set  out  the  next  morning  to  join  the  com- 
pany at  a  designated  rendezvous -east  of  the  mountains. 

Our  travellers  had  profited  by  the  delays  at  the 
mansion,  and  getting  much  the  start  of  their  antici- 
pated pursuers,  were  approaching  in  safety  a  thickly 
settled  part  of  the  country.  One  night,  the  last  pre- 
ceding the  one  of  their  arrival  at  the  town  of  *****#**J 
and  as  they  were  about  commencing  a  descent  of  the 
last  mountain,  terminating  at  the  commencement  of  a 
beautiful  as  wide,  extensive,  rich  and  tastily  cultivated 
section  of  country,  their  guides  being  some  eighty  or 
a  hundred  yards  in  front,  were  stopped  by  a  party  of 
six  mounted  men,  who  at  that  time  had  come  to  a  path 
meeting  at  angles  on  and  intersecting  the  one  intended 
by  the  guides. 

At  that  moment  a  cloud,  that  had  for  some  half 
hour  before  obscured  its  light,  passed  from  between 
the  moon  and  our  travellers,  and,  as  if  desirous  of 
affording  light  in  the  hour  of  danger  to  the  benighted 
fugitives,  its  mild  as  placid  rays  were  displayed  ;  and 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  335 

all  animate,  as  inanimate,  nature  was  in  full  view 
around  them. 

The  guides  had  not  yet  attained  the  point  of  inter- 
section before  the  word  halt  was  heard  as  emanating 
from  one  of  the  six  men  at  that  time  occupying  the 
pass,  where  they  had  already  formed  a  direct  line,  the 
front  facing  that  of  the  guides  in  their  advance. 

When  the  guides  had  advanced  to  within  a  few 
paces  distant  from  the  line  spoken  of,  one  of  that 
company  advanced  to  the  centre  of  the  column,  and 
ordering  them  to  stop,  a  short  conversation  ensued 
between  them  and  the  person  in  question. 

At  that  instant  our  lovers  also  formed  a  line,  the 
ladies  placing  themselves  between  the  two  gentlemen, 
and  in  full  view  of  affairs  going  on  in  front  of  them. 

Here  Laurence  was  in  the  act  of  advancing,  when 
Ellen,  perceiving  his  intention,  gave  him  a  signal  to 
remain  in  his  position  and  await  the  report  to  himself 
and  Hyne  of  the  elder  Sligo.  The  result  proved  the 
correctness  of  her  judgment,  for  in  a  few  minutes 
after,  the  two  commanders,  as  they  supposed,  of  the 
company,  rode,  accompanied  by  the  guides,  to  where 
the  ladies  and  gentlemen  were. 

The  exterior  costume  of  the  officers  was  not  as 
valuable  as  (if  I  may  be  allowed  the  application)  that 
of  their  interior. 

The  latter  displaying  an  excellence  of  texture  in- 
terspersed with  a  brilliancy  rarely  met  with,  while  its 
suavity  and  graceful  appearance  betokened  the  forms 
from  whence  it  emanated  to  be  those  of  gentlemen. 
The  external  appearance  of  each  was  neat  and  gen- 
teel, and  their  persons  were  rendered  comfortable  by 
a  thick  overcoat,  buttoned  around  them  to  their  chins; 


336  THE  HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

while  on  the  front  part  of  their  hats  was  worn  a  rich 
plume,  fastened  at  its  base  by  large  gold  clasps,  em- 
bossed with  a  number  of  precious  stones,  the  brilliancy 
of  which  were  finely  displayed  from  the  reflection  of 
the  Queen  of  Night  upon  them. 

Before  the  officers  spoken  of  left  their  positions,  the 
white  flag  of  truce,  borne  by  the  junior  in  command, 
was  seen  hoisted  and  waving  in  the  air  at  a  respectful 
height  above  his  head.  That  done,  they  slowly  ad- 
vanced to  a  spot  about  five  steps  from  where  our 
travellers  with  their  guides  were  then  stationed. 

Here  a  momentary  silence  was  observed,  when  one 
of  the  officers,  addressing  Laurence  and  Hyne,  point- 
ing to  it  as  he  did  so,  said, 

"Gentlemen,  that  flag  is  the  emblem  of  present 
peace  with  me,  and  as  long  as  it  maintains  its  posi- 
tion, know  that  you  and  your  party  are  safe,  and  in 
no  danger  whatever.  It  becomes  my  duty,  however, 
to  inform  you  upon  this  occasion,  that  you  behold  in 
me  the  chief  of  a  company  of  bandits  that  infest  these 
mountains,  and  that  our  object  is  plunder,  without 
regard  to  rank,  condition  or  sex.  ,  You  and  your 
party  are  all  alike  in  my  power,  and  I  must  here  de- 
mand of  you — from  whence  you  have  come?  your 
object  ?  your  place  of  destination  ?  and  the  amount, 
whatever  it  may  be,  of  gold,  silver  and  jewelry  in 
yours  and  your  party's  possession?  That  course 
taken  by  you,  of  immediate  compliance,  may,  in  the 
end,  procure  your  release  from  the  fate  now  awaiting 
you  and  those  of  the  company  you  seem  to  be  the 
protectors  of.  For  your  answers  and  compliance  with 
my  demands,"  continued  the  robber,  "  I  shall  wait  a 


THE  HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  337 

respectful  time,  and  shall,  for  the  present,  return  to 
my  command." 

At  that  the  officers  wheeled  their  horses,  and  in 
the  next  minute  the  flag  waved  in  front  of  their  com- 
mand. 

The  present  was  a  momentous  time  with  our 
travellers.  The  demands  of  the  captain  of  the  bandits 
were  imperative ;  as  also  was  their  obligation  to  pro- 
tect, as  on  a  former  occasion  they  said  they  would  do, 
their  fair  charge.  And  how  then  to  act,  involved 
much  thought  and  mature  consideration,  under  cir- 
cumstances present  and  least  expected. 

"  How  now,  Sam  ?"  said  Laurence  to  Hyne,  as  the 
two  officers  went  from  them  in  a  swift  gallop,  and 
placed  themselves  at  the  head  of  their  command. 
"  As  for  our  money  and  effects,  they  are  nothing,  on 
such  occasions  as  the  present  represents,  to  lose,  but 
trash.  But  to  lose  those  for  whom  our  lives  are 
already  pledged,  is  what  I  can  neither  bear  nor  think 
of  tolerating,  till  I  shall  cease  to  exist ;  and  they,  if 
need,  must  be  taken  over  my  corpse.  The  bandits/' 
continued  Laurence,  "  are,  from  present  appearances, 
six  to  four  of  us  in  number,  and,  as  is  their  trade, 
fight  more  for  that  which  lines  the  coffers  of  many 
unworthy  men,  than  in  defence  of  virtue  and  inno- 
cence. The  ladies  must  be  protected,  come  what  may, 
and  followed  by  whatever  circumstances.  To  tell," 
continued  Laurence,  "  where  we  are  from,  who  we  are, 
and  what  our  object  and  destination,  might  be  attended 
with  more  pernicious  consequences  than  at  once  to 
fight  in  that  of  the  ladies  and  our  defence  ;  for,  if  the 
demands  of  the  commander  of  that  band  of  robbers 
are  complied  with,  it  will  be  death  only  to  us  at  last, 
22 


338  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEBINGAY. 

with  this  difference — that  it  will  be  two  instead  of 
one.  First,  if  obedient  to  the  demands  of  their  cap- 
tain, the  ladies  may  also  be  taken  from  us ;  and,  in 
the  second  place,  we  will  be  murdered,  with  a  view 
to  prevent  suspicion.  What  say  you,  at  this  view  of 
our  situation,"  continued  Laurence,  "to  a  refusal  of 
that  captain's  demands,  and  our  preparation  for  and 
commencement  of  hostilities !" 

The  argument  of  Laurence  was  readily  concurred 
in  by  Hyne.  The  fiery  vehemence  of  youth  was 
kindled  to  its  hottest  .fervency  in  the  bosoms  of  our 
lovers,  and  their  next  object  was  the  safety  of  the 
ladies  during  their  continuance  of  the  determined 
upon  combat. 

For  the  purpose  of  devising  some  plan  of  safety  to 
the  ladies,  the  gentlemen  had  dismounted,  and  making 
signs  requesting  them  to  do  so,  in  the  next  moment 
all  their  party  was  on  the  ground. 

Here,  the  elder  Sligo  being  better  acquainted  with 
giving  expeditious  signs,  upon  explanation  to  the 
ladies  than  their  lovers  were — he  was  ordered  to  ex- 
plain the  dilemma  in  which  they  were  placed,  and  to 
request  in  the  names  of  the  gentlemen — their  agree- 
ment to  the  then  anticipated  combat. 

With  that  calmness  and  composure  often  met  with 
in  the  opposite  sex,  amidst  danger ;  and,  that  so  emi- 
nently displays  the  virtue  with  which  nature's  God 
•has  ordered  them,  our  ladies  were  strictly  attentive 
to  the  pantomimic  explanations  then  being  made  them 
of  the  check  of  their  peaceful  progress.  And,  when 
asked  by  signs  given,  if  they  would  give  their  con- 
sent to  the  preparations  for  and  defence  spoken  of, 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  339 

they,  in  the  person  of  Ellen  alone,  and  through  their 
interpreter,  Sligo,  to  Laurence,  replied : — 

"  What  we  have  done  is  from  our  own  free-will  and 
choice.  The  present  ill  is  one  among  many  we  expect 
to  meet  with  through  life,  and  which,  it  appears,  we 
could  neither  foresee  or  avoid.  Our  act  of  elopement 
with  you  has,  perhaps,  brought  upon  us,  the  indigna- 
tion of  those  to  whom  we  are,  by  birth,  near,  and 
may,  probably,  rest  upon  us  as  a  stain,  in  tjie  opinions 
of  those  whose  weakness  of  intellect  too  often  brings 
them  to  think,  nothing  right  that-  is  above  their  own 
capacities.  For  that  class  of  beings  we  entertain  a 
sympathy  not  merited,  yet  bestowed  upon  them  by  us, 
in  charity.  With  regard  to  yourself  and  Mr.  Hyne," 
continued  Ellen,  "  it  is  for  your  sakes  that  we  are  here; 
for  your  sakes  that  we  have,  thus  far,  braved  every 
danger,  and  in  the  present  one,  if  necessary,  that  we 
will  share  with  you  every  ill  the  present  hour  seems 
so  pregnant  with. 

"  Devise  your  plan,"  she  continued,  "  and  we  with 
you  will  place  ourselves  under  an  Omnipotence  for 
safety." . 

Just  at  the  time  that  Laurence  had  received  the 
pantomimic  reply  of  Ellen,  three  other  men  were  dis- 
covered to  have  joined  the  company  of  bandits,  and 
as  they  then  numbered  nine  to  four,  the  hope  of  suc- 
cess in  a  victorious  escape  had  begun  to  fail  in  the 
bosoms  of  our  two  lovers.  •':•+ 

That  acquisition  to  the  number  of  bandits  was  no- 
ticed by  the  ladies,  and  quick  of  comprehension,  as 
they  were  of  sight,  a  short  signalled  conference  ensued 
between  them,  when  Ellen  beckoned  to  Sligo  to  attend 


840  THE   HEIRESSES   OF  POTHEEIXGAY. 

her,  conveyed  through  his  interpretation  the  following 
additional  remarks  to  Laurence. 

"  We  have  seen,  with  regret,  the  increase  to  the 
number  of  bandits,  who,  a  few  moments  ago,  we  had 
thought  your  gallantry  and  bravery  equal  to.  That 
opinion  is  now  changed — not  on  account  of  a  want  of 
confidence  in  your  skill  and  management  of  yours  and 
our  defence,  but  owing,  entirely,  to  the  more  than 
double  force  opposed.  With  this  view  of  our  condi- 
tion, Susan  and  myself  advise  a  parley  with  the  leader 
of  the  bandits,  which  may,  perhaps,  bring  about  an 
honorable  as  safe  escape  from  them,  and  influence  of 
their  present  power  over  us.  In  this  act  on  your 
parts,"  continued  Ellen,  "  we  would  recommend,  with 
due  deference  to  your  better  opinions,  a  surrender 
into  the  hands  of  their  Captain  all,  if  necessary,  of  the 
personal  effects  of  our  party.  If,"  continued  she, 
"  from  this  spot  we  may  even  have  to  walk  in  the 
completion  of  our  purposes,  to  the  settlements,  you 
can  there  apprise  your  fathers  of  youf  respective  situ- 
ations, and  while  waiting  for  means  to  return  to  New 
York,  that  which  is  ever  of  more  sterling  worth  to 
man  than  gold  and  silver — an  honorable  and  gentle- 
manly deportment  are  yours ;  the  use  of  which  will 
command  respect  from  those  who  possess  sense;  while 
upon  those  to  the  reverse,  you  may  look  with  more 
proud  as  compassionate  sympathy  than  contempt," 
adding,  "  the  race  is  not  to  the  swift,  nor  the  battle 
to  the  strong." 

What  to  do  was  now,  a  matter  of  more  difficulty 
to  arrive  at  than  the  hopes  of  success  of  their 
plans,  previous  to  the  reinforcement,  had  created  a 
certainty  of.  To  avoid  as  much  as  possible  a  show 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  341 

of  alarm,  our  party  remounted,  when  Sligo,  with  a 
white  pocket-handkerchief  waving  in  one  hand,  was 
despatched,  requesting  the  presence  of  the  com- 
mandants. 

During  the  absence  of  Sligo,  a  profound  silence 
was  observed,  and  in  the  meantime,  our  ladies  lower- 
ing their  veils,  took  their  positions  as  before  described. 
A  valuable  diamond  pin  rested  upon  the  bosom  of 
each  one,  while  four  elegant  as  massive  bracelets 
encircled  their  wrists. 

In  a  short  time  Sligo  returned,  and  reporting  the 
request  granted,  resumed  the  station  formerly  occu- 
pied by  him.  He  had  scarcely  done  so,  before  the 
officers,  advancing  to  a  distance  of  about  five  paces, 
halted  in  front  of  the  line  formed  by  the  fugitive 
party. 

Here  a  short  pause  again  ensued,  when  the  officer 
heretofore  known  to  my  readers  as  the  Captain  of  the 
bandits,  said  to  Laurence  : 

"  Stranger,  if  properly  informed,  I  am  at  your 
request  before  you  for  the  purpose,  doubtless,  of 
receiving  your  answer  and  compliance  with  my 
demands  ?" 

"  Not,  sir,  in  the  entire,"  calmly  replied  Laurence. 

"  In  what  particular  lies  the  difference  between 
your  views  and  those  of  my  own  of  your  case  ?" 
asked  the  Captain. 

"  In  four  out  of  five  of  your  requirements  of  us, " 
replied  Laurence. 

"  Can  you  name  the  requisites  demanded,  "  returned 
the  Captain. 

"You  certainly  have  not  forgotten  them,  but  be 
that  as  it  may,  I  can, "  replied  Laurence. 


342  THE   HEIKESSES  OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

"  Do  so, "  said  the  Captain. 

"  They  are :  From  whence  we  come  ?  our  objects? 
place  of  destination?  silver,  gold  and  jewelry  in  our 
possession  ?  and  lastly,  frqm  its  inference,  the  prob- 
ability of  our  party  being  made  prisoners  and  put  to 
death  by  your  order  ?  " 

"The  first,  second,  third  and  fifth  of  your  demands, " 
continued  Laurence,  "are  what  we  protest  against. 
The  fourth  is  trash,  and  in  the  present  hour  is  looked 
upon  as  yours  If,"  continued  he,  "  there  is  one  atom  of 
honor  yet  lingering  in  that  bosom  of  yours,  long  since 
a  wreck  of  disreputable  profession,  I  appeal  to  it  for 
justice,  in  inducing  you,  upon  the  principles  of  gen- 
erosity and  humanity,  strange  as  those  feelings  may 
be  to  you,  to  let  them  now  in  your  power  pass,  more 
especially  when  two  of  them  are  ladies,  whose  per- 
sons are  sacred  while  living,  and  which  myself  and 
my  comrades  are  bound  to  protect  at  the  expense  of 
a  flow  of  the  last  drop  of  blood  in  our  veins. " 

"  You  are  rather  insolent  than  otherwise,  as  a  sup- 
plicant, "  replied  the  Captain,  cooly. 

"  To  base  oppression  it  may  appear  so,  sir,  but  to 
the  truly  honorable,  never !  "  replied  Laurence. 

"  More,  instead  of  less  insolence !  and  for  which 
you  may  (at  a  time  better  productive  of  convenience 
to  me  than  the  present  one)  have  to  account, "  said 
the  Captain.  "It  is,"  he  continued,  "not  often,  and 
particularly  under  such  circumstances  as  the  present 
represents,  that  any  requests  are  ever  granted  by  me. 
To  that  rule  the  cage  now  presented  shall  be  an  ex- 
ception. I  have  heard,  "  continued  the  robber, 
"  your  protest  and  will  now  listen  to  your  proposals 
for  yours  and  the  ransom  of  your  party. " 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  343 

"  The  semblance  of  generosity,"  replied  Laurence, 
"  which  appears  in  the  latter  part  of  your  remarks,  sir, 
inspires  me  with  greater  respect  for  you  than  other 
portions  of  it  justify  me  in  entertaining.  However,  in 
the  words  of  the  more  learned  and  better  judge  of  men 
than  either  you  or  me,  I  shall  for  the  present  think  no 
more  of  it,  and  shall  only  add,  that,  '  In  such  a  time  as 
this,  it  is  not  meet  that  every  offence  shall  bear  its 
comment,'  and  avail  myself  of  your  willingness  to 
hear  my  proposals  for  a  parley." 

The  officer  gracefully  bowed  his  approval  of  the 
compliment  conferred  and  smiling,  replied,  "I  like 
bravery  and  honor — they  are  allies — they  fit  me  well, 
and  when  reminded  of  them  so  forcibly,  as  on  this 
occasion  they  have  been  developed  by  you,  I  cannot 
but  own  their  influence,  though  the  impetus  to  it  be 
given  by  an  .enemy.  We,"  continued  the  officer, 
"will  settle  the  insults  mutually  given  to  one  another, 
at  a  more  remote  period,  and  one  less  cumbersome 
than  the  present  one  is  to  you." 

"  Here,"  advancing  to  where  Laurence  was,  and  ex- 
tending it  as  he  spoke,  "  is  my  hand,  in  testimony  of 
what  I  have  just  said.  You  and  your  party  are  free,  and 
may  continue  your  pass  through  the  mountains  unmo- 
lested, consequent  upon  your  being  the  attendant  of 
ladies ;  but"  continued  the  officer,  "  if  ever  the  time 
comes,  mark  my  words,  that  we  meet  again  upon  those 
mountains,  there  will  be  an  attempt,  on  my  own,  as  well, 
doubtless,  on  your  part,  to  have  the  insults  settled  that 
have  passed  between  us  this  night.  A  few  moments 
more,"  continued  the  Captain,  "  and  I  shall  detain  you 
no  longer.  In  your  route  and  where  you  may,  probably, 
arrive  at  some  time  to-night,  stands,  at  a  short  dis- 


344  THE   HEIKESSES   OF   FOTHERENGAY. 

tance  from  the  winding  pathway,  terminating  at  the 
commencement  of  the  valley — a  house,  occupied  by 
one  of  my  command  and  his  family,  under  the  pretext 
of  '  Tavern-keepers.'  That  house  is  the  rendezous  of 
many,  who,  like  me,  live  upon  the  spoils  clandestinely 
taken  from  others,  and  where  you  will  most  likely  be 
in  eminent  danger.  My  honor,"  continued  the  Robber, 
"  has  been  pledged  for  your  safety — and  my  gallantry, 
if  such  a  spirit  I  may  claim  to  possess,  must  be  added 
and  exercised  for  yours  and  your  party's  protection." 

Here  the  officer  unbuttoned  his  great  coat,  and 
followed  in  the  act  by  his  no  less  gentlemanly  com- 
panion, took  from  around  their  necks  a  massive  gold 
chain,  from  each  of  which  was  suspended  an  elegant 
"signet."  "These  articles,"  continued  he,  "will 
insure  the  safety  of  your  persons  and  property, 
wherever  and  whenever  seen.  .  By  your  permission, 
sir,"  addressing  Laurence,  continued  the  Robber,  "  I 
claim  the  honor  of  placing  them  around  the  necks  of 
the  ladies  present,  to  be  returned  to  me,  if  ever  I 
meet  with  them  again,  and  if  not,  to  be  kept  by  them 
as  a  token  of  the  high  regard  in  which  they  and  their 
sex  are  held  by  a  robber." 

When  the  Captain  had  finished  his  remarks,  and 
waiting  for  a  reply  from,  Laurence  said,  "  I  and  my 
party  feel  grateful  for  the  care  and  concern  you 
manifest  for  our  safety,  and  regret,  sir,  the  momentary 
delay  which  must  unavoidably  take  place,  before 
conferring  your  passport  upon  us,  through  that 
esteem  in  which  the  opposite  of  our  sex  are  held  by 
you.  Both  of  the  ladies,"  continued  Laurence,  "  are  deaf 
and  dumb,  and  if  you  will  allow  me  a  few  moments, 
they  shall  be  apprized  of  your  kind  intentions." 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF  FOTHERINGAY.  345 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  was"  the  reply. 

Here  Sligo  was  ordered  to  confer  with,  them,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  after,  our  ladies,  leaving  the  line,  rode 
to  where  the  officers  were,  when  the  chains  were 
placed  as  spoken  of,  and  in  a  few  moments  after,  the 
adieu  being  passed,  the  commander  of  the  bandits  and 
his  men.  soon  disappeared. 

When  one  trouble  is  over  and  another  spoken  of, 
as  likely  to  ensue,  the  reflections  on  the  past,  and 
thoughts  upon  that  anticipated,  are  alike  unpleasant, 
as  they  are  opposed  to  an  ease  of  mind.  Such  was 
the  condition  of  the  mental  faculties  of  our  travellers ; 
and  under  such  impressions,  they  passed  their  lonely, 
as  now  unobstructed  route  till  they  had  arrived  at  the 
eastern  descent  of  the  mountains.  At  that  point, 
about  five  miles  distant  from  the  house  spoken  of  by 
the  Robber. 

As  the  descent  was  a  steep  one,  and  traced  through 
a  narrow  4efile,  the  party  was  compelled  in  some 
places,  to  dismount,  while  in  single  file,  each  one 
leading  his  horse,  they  followed,  one  after  the  other, 
v/ith  slow  and  cautious  step& 

At  about  half-way  the  distance  from  the  top  to  the 
foot  of  the  mountain,  and  on  a  spur,  separated  from 
the  spot  then  occupied  by  our  party,  by  an  impassable 
and  deep  hollow,  was  discovered  several  persons  on 
horseback,  and  one  of  them  hailing  Sligo,  demanded 
of  him,  "  Who  he  and  his  party  were  ?  Where  they 
were  bound  ?  and  if  friends  to  the  house  below  ?" 

Sligo  understanding  his  duty,  replied,  "  We  are 
strangers,  travelling  from  the  west  to  the  east; 
knowing  no  one,  and  friends  to  all  who  will  treat  us 
as  such." 


346  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"  You  answer  boldly,  and  know  not  to  whom  you 
speak.  I  will  see  to  it,"  replied  the  man. 

The  moment  the  spokesman  had  ended  his  speech, 
he  and  his  party  disappeared  from  the  spur  of  the 
mountain  occupied  by  them,  when  our  travellers  re- 
sumed their  winding  as  difficult  way  down  the  moun- 
tain. 

At  length,  and  at  about  one  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
the  fugitives  arrived  at  a  spot  from  which  they  had  a 
full  view  of  the  "  Tavern "  spoken  of.  A  dim  light 
was  discovered  in  the  distance,  emanating  from  a  lan- 
tern suspended  from  the  end  of  a  pole  rafter,  that 
aided  in  the  support  of  a  clapboard  roof  of  a  large- 
sized  double  cabin.  Beacon-like,  the  lantern  was 
steady,  as  if  to  attract  the  attention  of,  and  induced 
the  weary  and  benighted  traveller  to  seek  shelter  and 
rest  there.  Not,  however,  to  receive  and  partake  of 
the  rights  of  hospitality  there,  but  as  the  first  step, 
innocently  taken,  towards  violation,  glunder  and 
murder ! 

At  sight  of  the  cabin  a  short  pause  to  their  pro- 
gress ensued,  occupied  by  consultation  upon  the  pro- 
priety of  stopping  there  for  the  remainder  of  the 
night,  or  to  proceed  to  the  next  house,  about  ten 
miles  off,  and  which  was  the  next  preceding  their 
arrival  at  the  town  of ,  where  they  had  calcu- 
lated upon  being  out  of  the  reach  of  danger  from  their 
pursuers. 

The  fatigue  of  the  ladies — their  want  of  refresh- 
ment and  sleep  in  the  last  several  nights  previous — 
and  the  desire  of  relief  from  the  excitement  thus  far 
of  that  night,  induced  the  gentlemen  to  avail  them- 
selves of  a  chance  for  the  latter  at  the  "  Tavern;"  and 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEEINGAY.  347 

leaving  their  long  trodden  pathway,  they  were  soon  at 
the  door  of  a  miserable  excuse  for  one. 

The  moon  had  now  gradually  descended  behind  the 
lofty  mountains  that  our  travellers  had  just  crossed, 
the  last  one  of  in  their  route,  and  as  if  to  say — as  the 
placid  serenity  of  her  last  rays  were  cast  upon  them — 
"  Eest  here  in  peace,  for  I  can  light  you  no  longer  on 
your  way  to-night,  but  will,  if  necessary,  lend  my  aid 
at  night  to-morrow."  Then  all  was  darkness,  except 
the  light  afforded  by  the  twinkling  stars  as  nightly 
they  afford  their  glittering  array  on  things  during 
nature's  silent  hours. 

The  two  Sligo's  being  in  front  on  their  arrival  at 
the  house,  and  one  of  them  knocking  at  its  door,  was 
answered  from  within  by  a  guttural,  surly  voice,  in 
the  expression  of — 

"  Who  disturbs  the  sleep  of  honest  people  at  this 
late  hour  ?" 

"Coming,  sir,"  he  continued,  as  the  second  rap  was 
made. 

In  a  few  moments  the  door  was  opened,  when  a 
grim  looking  animal,  in  the  shape  of  man,  made  his 
appearance,  with  a  lighted  candle  in  his  hand ;  and, 
with  just  about  as  much  indifference  to  the  necessities 
of  others  as  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  feelings  of 
friendship,  addressing  Laurence,  said : 

"  The  rule  at  the  '  Take-in  House,'  is,  to  admit  no 
traveller,  without  he  pays  a  threefold  price,  when  he 
comes  to  it  after  the  hour  of  twelve  o'clock  at  night; 
besides,  my  house  is  now  full  of  known  gentlemen,  who 
I  cannot  disfurnish  for  the  few  hours'  accommodation 
of  wandering  stragglers.  However,"  he  continued, 
"  if  my  terms  are  acceptable,  you  may  come  in." 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"You  are  kind,  Mr.  Take-in,"  replied  Laurence. 
We  accept  of  your  terms,  and  will  take  them  for — 
what  they  may  be  worth." 

In  a  little  time  the  party  was  dismounted,  and  the 
ladies,  taking  each  an  arm  of  the  gentlemen,  were 
conducted  into  a  small  room  occupied  by  the  propri- 
etor of  the  "  Take-in  House"  and  his  family,  where 
they  were  for  a  few  moments  left  alone,  and  the  time 
they  were  so  was  occupied  by  the  gentlemen  bringing 
in  their  baggage,  while  the  two  Sligo's,  with  the  land- 
lord, were  employed  at  the  stable,  with  their  horses. 

Here  and  there  was  seen  straw  beds,  lying  foot  to 
foot,  upon  the  floor,  while  each  one  seemed  occupied 
by  double  tenancy  ;  all  not  so  much  after  the  matter  of 
fee-simple  right  as  at  will  from  subsequent  events. 

The  ladies  occupied  each  a  three-legged  stool,  upon 
which  they  had  been  left  by  the  gentlemen,  near  the 
fire-place,  where  were  the  remains  of  what,  in  the 
early  part  of  that  night,  might  have  been  taken  for  a 
comfortable  fire. 

The  signets  bestowed  upon  the  ladies,  had  been 
placed  by  the  gallant  captain  between  their  riding- 
habits  and  their  usual  costumes,  so  that  no  orna- 
ments or  valuables  were  visible  about  them,  save  their 
bracelets  and  breastpins. 

"  Necessity  is  said  to  be  the  mother  of  invention, 
George,"  said  Hyne  to  Laurence,  as,  in  placing  their 
saddle-bags  and  the  valises  with  their  holsters  close  by, 
alongside  of  the  seats  occupied  by  the  ladies,  they  took 
seats  upon  them. 

Just  at  that  time,  our  renowned  host  of  the  "  Take-in 
House,"  accompanied  by  the  Sligos,  entered  the  room, 
when  one  of  the  latter  perceiving  the  position  occu- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  349 

pied  by  Laurence  and  Hyne,  said,  "  Myself  and  my 
brother  will  profit  by  your  example,  gentlemen;"  when, 
in  the  next  moment,  getting  at  a  vacant  spot  near  the 
existence  of,  but  not  warmth  of,  the  fire,  they  then  also 
seated  themselves  upon  their  saddle-bags. 

"  An  unforseen  necessity  impelled  the  measure, 
And  safety  sanctioned  it." 

In  a  few  moments  after  our  travellers  had  become 
seated,  and  while  our  host  was  yet  in  a  standing  pos- 
ture, with  one  foot  upon  a  straw-bed  and  another  upon 
the  naked  floor,  two  men  making  their  appearance 
requested  him  to  walk  to  the  door. 

While  the  landlord^and  the  two  men  were  in  earnest, 
as  rather  enraged,  conversation,  the  expression  was 
overheard  of,  "  Such  a  chance  as  this  is,  is  not  often 
ours ;  we  will  not  sleep  till  the  work  is  done !  The 
captain  will  not  be  here  to  night — it  is  past  his  hour. 
He  knows  nothing  of  these  people,  or  else  his  signet 
would  be  upon  them.  We  can  murder,  conceal  their 
bodies,  and  divide  what  they  may  have  between  us,  as 
so  much  clear  gain,  and  our  lady -protecting  captain  be 
none  the  wiser  of  it.  Will  you  agree  to  what  I  have 
said  ?"  continued  the  speaker. 

"  I  will,"  replied  the  assassin-like  host  of  the  Take- 
in  House. 

When  the  landlord  returned  to  the  room,  Laurence 
asked,  "If  he  and  his  party  could  get  something  to 
eat,  places  to  sleep,  and  a  separate  apartment  for  the 
ladies?" 

The  animal  replied,  "  All  the  places  you  can  get, 
vou  now  have,  and  for  something  to  eat,  that  cannot 
be  furnished  here." 


350  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"  Is  this,  then,"  continued  Laurence,  "  the  kind  of 
fare  which  we  have  to  pay  three  prices  each  ?" 

"  Yes,"  in  a  surly  tone,  replied  the  host.  "  And," 
continued  he,  "  you  may  think  yourselves  lucky  if 
you  get  off  from  here  in  the  morning  with  three  prices 
for  each  head  of  you." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?"  continued  Laurence. 

"  Oh,  nothing,"  recollecting  himself,  replied  the 
animal,  "  it  is  only  a  way  I  have  of  speaking." 

At  that  moment  another  call  for  his  attention  was 
being  made,  and  our  host  hurrying  from  them,  the 
travellers  were  left  to  their  undisturbed  reflections. 

Not  being  where  they  could  speak  but  in  a  whisper, 
which  had  then  become  necessary,  for  fear  of  being 
overheard  by  some  one  or  more  of  the  bed  tenantry, 
alternate  communications  were  made  between  the  four 
males  of  our  travellers,  in  which  Sligo  was  ordered  to 
give  signs  to  the  ladies  of  what  was  going  on,  of  the 
danger  the  party  was  in,  and  of  the  necessity  there 
was  of  exhibiting  the  signets.  The  ladies  immediately 
complied,  and  in  the  next  minute,  the  signets,  grace- 
fully suspended,  were  seen  resting  upon  their  bosoms. 

To  the  surprise  of  the  party,  and  in  the  next  mo- 
ment, sprang  to  his  feet,  from  one  of  the  straw  beds,  a 
tall  and  meagre  looking  fellow,  with  a  pair  of  socks  on 
his  feet,  and  his  pants  fastened  over  his  shirt  by  a 
leather  belt.  Taking  three  steps  from  where  he  was, 
the  door  was  quickly  opened,  and  as  soon  slammed 
to,  when  all  again  was  still,  and  the  eyes  of  the  bal- 
ance of  the  bed  tenants  peeping  from  under  their 
respective  coverings,  were  instantly  fixed  upon  their 
nightly  guests. 

The  man  just  spoken  of  had  scarcely  closed  the 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  351 

door  before  lie  was  met  by  the  host,  his  two  confede- 
rates, and  two  others,  on  their  way  to  the  room  he 
had  left,  for  the  purpose  of  assassination.  Their  plan 
was  to  offer  the  gentlemen  and  their  guides,  a  glass 
of  brandy  and  water,  the  spirit  mixed  in  a  bottle  of 
prussic  acid  ;  and  as  for  the  ladies,  their  purpose  was 
with  them,  strangulation. 

"  How  now,  Stub !  what  has  made  you  rise  so  early  ? 
What's  out  now  with  you  ?"  said  the  host,  as  from. 
Stub's  tall  person  and  lengthy  steps,  the  fellow  in  his 
hurry  came  forcibly  against  him. 

"  More  is  out  than  you  know  of,"  replied  Stub ; 
u  and  you'd  better  look  out  how  you  fool  around 
these  'ere  strangers." 

"  Pshaw,  if  you  had  half  as  much  brains  as  you 
have  length,  you  would  not  be  so  easily  alarmed," 
replied  our  host. 

"  Let  me  have  much  or  little  brain,"  said  Stub.  "  I 
know  one  thing,  and  that  is,  if  you  injure  a  single 
hair  of  the  head  of  any  of  this  party,  the  Captain  will 
bring  you  to  your  senses  with  a  vengeance." 

"  Fool !"  cried  another  of  the  assassins  ;  "  the  Cap- 
tain knows  nothing  of  what  we  are  about  to  do,  nor 
never  will,  for  you  know  this  is  past  his,  or  the  Lieu- 
tenant's hour,  either;  and  before  they  corne  here  to- 
morrow night,  we  will  have  the  bodies  of  these  people 
securely  deposited  in  a  cold  ground  sweat-case,  and 
their  personal  effects  snugly  placed  beyond  the 
knowledge  or  reach  of  the  Captain." 

"It  is  sometimes  easier  to  talk  of  than  to  do 
things,"  replied  Stub,  "  an'  I  say  agin,  you  had  better 
not  fool  with  them  strangers,  for  the  Captain's  signets 
is  on  the  necks  of  them  ladies." 


352  THE    HEIRESSES    OF    POTHERING  AY. 

"  Well,  what  of  that  ?"  said  our  host.  "  If  what 
you  say  is  true,  we  have  gone  too  far  in  our  intentions 
to  give  them  np  now;  but  stay,  boys,"  he  continued, 
"  I'll  go  in  and  see  if  Stubs  tells  the  truth  or  a  lie." 

In  a  few  moments  the  keeper  of  the  "Take-in 
House,"  returned,  and  looking  as  if  he  had  been 
"taken  in,"  himself,  and  with  a  countenance  exhibit- 
ing fear  and  alarm,  said,  "Stub  tells  the  truth — the 
gold  chains  and  signets  are  brightly  shining  upon  the 
bosoms  of  the  ladies,  and  if  the  Captain  or  the  Lieu- 
tenant were  now  to  step  in,  we  would  all  feel  like 
singed  rats  after  a  fire." 

The  host  had  scarcely  finished  his  remarks  before 
the  sound  of  a  bugle  was  heard,  announcing  the  ap- 
pearance of  some  one,  well  known  at  the  "  Take-in 
House." 

The  signal  just  heard  caused  a  tremor  in  the 
"  would-be-brave-where-there-is-no-danger"  not  much  dis- 
similar to  that  spoken  of,  of  the  "dry -bones"  in  Holy 
Writ. 

"There  now!"  said  Stub,  "you'll  b'leive  me  the 
next,  if  your  neck  aint  stretched  this  time — wont 
you?" 

Our  host  had  no  time  to  reply  to  what  Stub  had 
asked  him,  for  at  that  moment  the  Lieutenant  of  the 
bandits  at  the  head  of  his  command,  made  his  appear- 
ance, and  calling  our  host,  said: — "Buford,  are  my 
apartments  in  order  ?" 

"Yes,  sir,"  was  the  reply. 

"Is  supper  ready,"  continued  the  officer. 

"  It  is — and  has  been  for  the  last  three  hours,  sir," 
replied  Buford,  "  and  I  have  been  waiting  to  know 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  353 

whether  you  would  have  it  in  your  ante-chamber  or 
in  the  dining-room  ?" 

"  In  the  dining-room,"  replied  the  Lieutenant,  as  he 
and  his  command  entered  a  magnificently  furnished 
apartment. 

They  had  not  been  there  long  before  the  Lieutenant 
wishing  to  give  Buford  some  other  orders,  stepped 
into  the  room  known  to  my  readers,  as  being  famous 
for  its  number  and  sort  of  beds,  and  from  one  of 
which,  Stub  had  suddenly  risen. 

There,  to  his  astonishment  and  mortification,  he 
discovered  the  travellers  seated  as  before  described, 
and  the  ladies  worn  out  with  fatigue,  seen  with  their 
heads  reclining  on  the  shoulder  of  each  gentleman  in 
a  profound  sleep. 

"  Worse  than  brute !  meanest  of  the  mean  !  you 
deserve  to  be  scarified  with  the  blade  of  the  smallest 
pen-knife — stuck  with  splinters  of  the  richest  pine 
and  then  burned  to  death,  for  your  villanous  pur- 
poses and  neglect  of  duty.  Ill  see  to  it,"  said  the 
Lieutenant  to  Buford.  Then  addressing  the  gentle- 
men, he  said :.  "  I  am  truly  mortified  at  the  orders 
of  my  commander  being  so  badly  complied  with,  by 
that  (pointing  to  Buford)  dog  of  a  landlord ;  while,  at 
this  late  hour,  I  claim  the  pleasure  of  extending"i,to 
you  and  the  ladies  under  your  care,  with  those  of 
your  attendants,  in  tire  name  of  my  Captain,  the  rites 
of  hospitality  now  at  my  command:" 

Thus  saying,  the  Lieutenant  requested  the  ladies  to 
be  awakened  and  apprized  of  his  wishes;  which,  being 
done,  the  whole  party  were  soon  ushered  into  the  ele- 
gant apartment  awhile  since  spoken  of. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  gentlemen  and  their  guides 
23 


354  THE    HEIRESSES    OF   POTHERINGAY. 

partook  of  a  glass  of  fine  Jamaica  spirits  and  water, 
and,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  gallant  Lieutenant,  the 
ladies  pledged  them  in  a  glass  of  fine  old  Maderia. 
Next  came  a  well  served  as  palatable  supper,  which 
when  over,  the  ladies,  at  the  order  given  by  the  Lieu- 
tenant to  the  wife  of  Buford,  retired  from  and  entered 
a  carpeted,  well  fitted-up  and  comfortable  room  for 
the  night;  when,  for  a  like  period,  our  gentlemen 
and  their  attendants  occupied  fine  beds  in  one  of  the 
Lieutenant's  rooms,  while  he  slept  in  the  adjoining  one. 
The  following  day,  and  after  a  repetition  of  the  like 
hospitality  shown  them  by  the  gallant  stranger  at  the 
"  Take-in  House,"  our  travellers  were  soon  on  their 
peaceful  way  again  to  the  town  of  **********}  where 
they  arrived  at  about  ten  o'clock  on  the  night  of  that 
day. 


CHAPTEE    XL. 

Like  satellites  moving  around  their  more  effulgent  orbits; — the  wealthy 
man  has  many  sycophnntic  as  lip-service  friends,  who,  in  adversity,  run 
from  him  as  if  he  were  a  pestilence;  hence,  if  Holy  Writ  be  true, 
wealth  makes  many  friends  in  this,  while  poverty  secures  an  unerring 
one  in  the  next  world. 

THE   ARREST   AND   IMPRISONMENT, 

THE  town  of  ******  was,  at  the  time  of  which  we 
are  speaking,  limited  with  regard  to  the  number  of  its 
inhabitants,  and  considerably  so,  as  is  the  case  else- 
where, in  this  kind  of  virtue,  dictating  the  propriety  of 
each  attending  to  their  own  and  letting  that  of  the  bust- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERINGAY.  355 

ness  of  their  neighbors  alone.  The  true  lady  and  the 
true  gentlemen  will  ever  do  so,  and  it  is  that  in  fact, 
which  so  eminently  distinguishes  them  from  the  pry, 
the  gossip  and  the  slanderer. 

On  the  night  of  their  arrival  at"  the  town  spoken  of, 
our  party  stopped  at  the  "  Eagle  Hotel,"  a  house  much 
celebrated  for  politeness  and  attention  shown  to  stran- 
gers. There  a  spacious  and  comfortable  apartment 
was  immediately  furnished  the  ladies,  and  the  gentle- 
men were  not  neglected  in  a  like  particular. 

"  Mistress,"  said  a  female  servant,  who,  after  attend- 
ing to  the  ringing  of  a  bell,  returned  forthwith  to  her, 
"  I  don't  know  what  kind  of  people  them  ladies  are, 
they  won't  speak,  but  make  signs-  to  me  that  I  can't 
understand." 

The  good-natured  dame  taking  from  their  resting- 
place  of  service,  a  pair  of  gold-framed  spectacles,  and 
wiping  them  with  a  clean  linen  handkerchief,  put 
them  into  a  case  made  of  like  material,  placed  it  in 
a  work  basket,  and  rising  from  her  chair, — herself 
and  the  servant  soon  found  their  way  into  the  ladies' 
apartment. 

Upon  entering  the  room — that  courtesy,  ever  the 
attendant  of  the  well-educated  and  polished  of  both 
sexes,  was  displayed  in  the  manner  and  deportment 
of  the  strangers,  who  immediately  rising  from  their 
seats,  as  the  old  lady  entered,  one  presented  a  chair, 
and  made  signs  for  her  to*  be  seated,  which  was  done, 
and  alongside  of  the  lady  who  had  offered  the 
chair. 

After  some  moments  spent  in  that  sort  of  confusion 
usual  with  those  entering  the  presence  of  strangers, 
and  whose  manners  are  a  little  above  that  sphere  to 


356  THE    IIEIKESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

which  the  less  polished  are  accustomed ;  our  lady  of 
the  Eagle  Hotel,  thinking  that  her  guests  might  be 
hard  of  hearing,  put  her  mouth  to  the  ear  of  the  lady, 
and  elevating  her  voice  to  a  pitch  at  which  it  had  not 
been  before,  nor  since,  perhaps,  bawled  out,  "  My  ser- 
vant has  told  me  that  you  make  signs  to  her  which 
she  can't  understand  the  meaning  of.  I  have  thought 
you  deaf  and  dumb ;  have  come  to  satisfy  myself  of 
it,  and  to  know  if  I  can  understand  what  you  want?" 
A  like  indifference  to-  the  old  lady's  expressions 
were  manifested  to  that  before  of  the  servants. 

•« 

'  What's  wanting,  ladies?"  And  after  an  additional 
sign  given  and  not  comprehended,  Susan,  going  to 
her  valise,  took  from  it  her  note  book,  and  returning, 
wrote, 

"  We  are  both  incapable  from  circumstances,  of 
conveying  our  ideas  by  articulation,  or  that  of  hear- 
ing. Can  you  convey  your  communications  on  paper, 
Madam  ?  if  so,  I  will  converse  with  you  in  writing. 

The  old  lady  being  minus  of  that  strength  of  the 
eye  which  had  attended  her  occulars  in  years  past, 
immediately  thrust  one  hand  into  her  pocket,  then 
recollecting  herself,  dispatched  Katy  for  her  specta- 
cles. They  were  soon  at  hand,  when  taking  the  book 
upon  her  lap,  and  laying  it  open  upon  a  snow-white 
linen  apron,  covering  the  front  part  of  a  black  silk 
gown,  by  the  light  of  a  candle  that  the  servant  had 
placed  on  a  table  near  the  ladies,  the  first  thing  she 
wrote,  seemingly  in  the  goodness  of  her  heart,  was, 

"  What  a  pity  that  two  such  fine-looking  ladies  as 
you  are  should  be  deaf  and  dumb." 

In  a  few  minutes  afterwards  the  requests  of  the 
ladies  were  complied  with.  Among  other  items  of 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY.  357 

the  prying  order  was  an  attempt  made  by  the  hostess 
to  know  the  names  of  the  ladies.  "  Where  they  were 
from  ?  Where  going  ?  What  their  object  ?  And  who 
the  young  men  were  attending  them?" 

After  reading  the  questions  put  to  her,  Susan 
placed  her  right  fore-finger  across  her  ruby  lips,  while 
her  eyes  mildly  resting  upon  those  of  the  old  lady 
through  her  spectacles,  conveyed  the  sign  of,  "That 
is  no  one's  business  but  those  it  belongs  to." 

In  a  few  moments  our  hostess  of  the  "  Eagle  Hotel" 
left  the  apartment,  and  soon  our  ladies  retired  to  that 
of  which  they  were  not  only  much  in  need,  but 
which  they  were  considerably  indisposed  for,  the  want 
of,  sleep. 

The  gentlemen  were  subjected  to  a  like  inquisitorial 
course  from  their  loquacious  landlord,  who,  like  one 
of  those  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Jefferson  in  his  "  Notes  on 
Virginia,"  think  it  no  harm,  but  exceedingly  polite 
and  betokening  the  gentleman,  to  go  through  all — 
even  descending  into  the  most  minute  details  of  in- 
quiry upon  every  man's  business  they  may  chance  to 
meet  with.  Of  that  class  of  beings  was  our  landlord, 
so  that,  strangers  as  they  were  and  far  from  their  na- 
tive homes,  there  was  little  appearance  of  any  thing 
like  kindness  and  friendship  being  extended  to  them 
except  so  far  only  as  the  dollars  in  their  possession 
warranted  the  manifestation  of. 

Misfortunes  are  rarely,  if  ever,  singled-handed.  The 
indisposition  of  the  ladies  increased,  and  for  several 
days  compelled  to  undergo  medical  treatment,  they 
were  unable  to  leave  their  beds,  and  thus  deprived  of 
that  invaluable  requisite  to  pleasure,  health.  Were 
among  strangers,  much  in  want  of  that  kind  of  society 


358  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

confidential,  so  peculiarly  necessary  in  their  then  situa- 
tions. 

Attentions  are  often  disagreeable  as  painful ;  and 
of  that  class  were  those  shown  our  ladies  by  their 
hostess,  who,  when  she  was  even  in  what  she  thought 
benevolent  acts  towards  the  strangers,  would  often 
place  them  in  a  fever  from  her  annoying  written 
inquiries,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  The  laborer  is  worthy 
of  his  hire,"  and  my  charge  for  services  rendered,  is 
to  know  who  you  are  ?  What  you  are  ?  Where  you 
are  from  ?  Where  going  ?  And  what  your  business 
here?  Added  to  that,  was  whether  they  would  or 
would  not  have  them  ?  their  room  was,  at  the  special 
request  of  the  hostess,  usually  crowded  by  their 
own  sex,  more -from  idle  curiosity  than  -  an  intrinsic 
good,  whose  remarks  of,  and  comments  upon  the  deaf 
and  dumb  were  as  distinctly  heard  as  understood  by 
those  who  had  taken  upon  themselves  that  appear- 
ance, which,  at  the  time  we  are  speaking  of,  was  a 
blessing  in  disguise,  as  it  relieved  our  strangers  of 
the  trouble  of  replying  to  idle  as  unmeaning  inquiry. 

Like  the  north-west  wind  on  a  winter's  night, 
passes  through  the  crevices  of  every  poor  man's  house, 
the  news  of  the  two  deaf  and  dumb  female  strangers, 
accompanied  by  two  equally  strange  men,  with  two 
white  servants,  was  soon  in  the  mouths  of  gossips 
seen  industriously  travelling  the  little  town  in  every 
direction,  to  give  the  occurrence  publicity.  Knowing 
nothing  of  them  but  that  they  were  strangers,  the 
ladies  were  traduced  and  spoken  of  in  all  sorts  of 
ways.  And  for  what  ?  Merely  because  they  did  not 
think  fit  to  inform  that  class  of  beings,  more  busy 
with  the  affairs  of  others  than  that  of  their  own,  who 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERINGAY.  359 

they  were?     Where  they  came  from?     "What  their 
business,  and  where  they  were  going  ? 

The  celebrated  "  Take-in  House"  from  which  our 
travellers  had  a  few  days  before  made  a  fortunate  as 
lucky  escape,  was  even  more  tolerable  with  them  than 
was  now  their  condition  at  the  more  fashionable,  and 
certainly  more  comfortable  "  Eagle  Hotel." 

The  time,  however,  was  then  fast  approaching,, 
when  every  thing  so  desirable  to  be  known,  should 
be,  in  spite  of  all  the  precautions  made  use  of  by  o,ur 
party,  developed  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  various 
mental  appetites  of  that  order  of  beings  of  both  sexes, 
of  which  we  have  been  speaking. 

It  is  easy  to  bear  prosperity,  because  it  floats,  as  it 
were,  upon  the  breeze,  and  is  constantly  studded  by 
countless  millions  ready  to  bow  with  equivalents  to 
devotion  at  the  shrine  of  those  who  have  arrived  at 
the  possession  of  wealth  I  While  adversity  is — like  the 
gates  of  Gaza  would  be  upon  the  shoulders  of  a 
modern  Sampson, — hard  to  carry !  Hence  it  is,  that 
we  see  so  many  towering  intellects  giving  way  to  the 
influence  of  the  latter, — and  but  few,  if  any,  to  the 
former,  —  extending  to  them,  however  meritorious 
and  beneficial  they  may  formerly  have  been,  the 
hand  of  aid  and  offer  of  assistance ;  but,  reader,  excuse 
this  indulgence  of  thought  upon  what  we  think  you 
will  say  is  the  truth !  We  have  not  forgotten  our 
promise  to  you,  and  will  proceed. 

Our  ladies  had  now  become  convalescent,  and  the 
purposes  had  in  view  and  to  be  put  in  effect  at  their 
arrival  at  the  town  of  **********  were 
being  made  preparations  for  by  those  whose  proper 
business  it  was  to  have  them  performed. 


360  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

The  gentlemen  had  ventured  it,  and  so  they  had 
found  it  to  be,  on  speaking  to  a  reverend  gentleman 
of  the  village ; 

One  who,  like  themselves,  attending  to  his  own, 
Left  that  of  the  business  of  others  alone, 

and  moreover,  a  man  of  few  words,  still  tongue  and  a 
good  heart !  That  gentleman  was  to  make  his  appear- 
ance at  the  hotel  at  eight  o'clock  on  the  following  even- 
ing, for,  reader,  as  we  have  on  a  former  occasion  said, 
we  need  not  tell  you  what. 

The  night  preceding  that  looked-for  happy  event, 
two  gentlemen,  strangers,  arrived  in  the  town,  and 
describing  the  fugitive  party  to  a  man  they  had 
spoken  to  in  the  street,  found  the  description  given, 
to  be  the  strangers  at  the  "Eagle  Hotel."  At  this 
they  asked  the  man  for  and  were  conducted  to  another 
house  called  "  The  Comfortable." 

It  was  now  nine  o'clock  at  night,  and  the  landlord 
being  apprized  by  the  strangers  of  their  business,  the 
sheriff,  who  lived  a  few  doors  distant,  was  sent  for,  and 
was  soon  at  their  command.  . 

The  following  morning,  just  after  they  had  break- 
fasted, thrown  their  cloaks  round  them,  and. on  the 
piazza  with  a  view  of  taking  a  walk,  the  sheriff  and 
his  deputy  being  in  their  rear,  stepped  to  where  they 
were,  and  tapping  Lawrence  and  Hyne  at  one  and  the 
same  time  upon  the  shoulders  of  each,  proclaimed  them 
prisoners,  upon  the  warrant  issued  by  our  celebrated 
limb  of  the  law,  formerly  spoken  of,  and  immediately 
divested  them  of  a  brace  of  small  pistols,  found  in  the 
breast-pockets  of  their  dress-coats.  That  done,  they 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  361 

were  forthwith  taken  to  a  lawyer's  office  near,  where 
two  justices  of  the  peace  presided  on  their  cases. 

At  that  time,  one  of  the  young  "  Millers,"  accompa- 
nied by  Standly  made  their  appearance  in  the  presence 
of  the  court,  alleging  upon  oath,  as  authorized  repre- 
sentatives of  Urnsden,  the  crimes  committed  by  the 
accused  of  having  unlawfully  taken  from  his  house  and 
protection,  and  retaining  the  same  in  their  possession, 
his  two  daughters,  Ellen  and  Susan ;  praying  the  court 
to  take  such  steps  in  the  cases  before  it,  as  the  law  made 
and  provided  in  such  offences  justified  it  in  doing. 

Upon  that  occasion,  among  other  proofs  offered 
upon  the  alleged  outrage,  was  the  letter,  already  before 
my  readers,  of  24th  of  January,  which  was  read  and 
admitted  by  the  court  as  evidence  against  the  accused. 

After  some  warmth  on  the. part  of  the  prosecution 
and  no  one  to  be  procured  by/ee,  nor  out  of  humanity, 
on  the  parts  of  the  defence, — the  offence  was  adjudged 
a  breach  of  trust,  and  of  course — a  bailable  one,  in 
default  of  which  the  offenders  were  committed,  with 
the  additional  instructions  of  the  court,  that  they  should 
be  taken  under  a  sufficient  guard,  and  at  a  short  sub- 
sequent period,  to  the  jail  of  the  county,  in  which  the 
offence  had  been  committed,  for  trial. 

At  judgment  being  pronounced,  and  after  a  fruitless 
attempt  to  procure  bail  in  the  enormous  sum  of  ten 
thousand  dollars  each,  for  the  appearance  at  the  court 
of  the  county  spoken  of,  our  young  gentlemen  made 
application  and  an  appeal  to  the  generosity  of  Standly, 
who  their  fathers  had  started  in  business  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  and  who  had  then  become  wealthy,  to 
join  them  and  some  others,  at  his  own  instance,  in  a 
bail-bond.  Judas-like,  Stnndly  betrayed  the  confi- 


362  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY. 

dence  of  his  benefactors! — suffered  their  sons  to  be 
imprisoned — and  at  that  time  told  them  that  their 
conduct  had  long  since  dropped  them  from  the  ties  of 
parental  affection. 

At  the  moment  Standly  had  finished  his  ungrateful 
reply,  and  at  a  time  when  it  had  brought  upon  the 
young  men  the  look  from  every  direction  of  sneering 
contempt  and  abusive  remarks,  the  reverend  gentle- 
man who  was  that  evening  to  have  consummated  the 
happiness  of  his  stranger  friend,  and  had  heard  from 
the  foul  aspersions  of  babbling  gossips  the  dilemma 
in  which  his  young  and  but  limited  acquaintance  had 
been  placed,  entered  the  court-room. 

With  that  pre-eminence  of  soul  ever  so  eminently 
portraying  the  line  of  distinction  between  the  vir- 
tuously good  and  the  grovelling  of  human  nature,  he 
asked  of  the  court  "The  amount  of  bail  required?" 

On  being  told  it,  he  asked,  "Can  I  be  allowed  to 
confer  privately  with  the  two  accused?" 

The  Court  replied,  "  that  that  could  not  be  per- 
mitted but  in  presence  of  an  officer.  In  a  few 
moments  he,  accompanied  by  the  young  gentlemen 
and  the  sheriff,  entered  an  adjoining  room. 

Unceremonious,  and  with  that  cordiality  of  feeling 
and  expression  natural  to  the  truly  friendly,  address- 
ing Laurence  and  Hyne,  the  clergyman  said : 

"  From  what  I  have  heard,  I  felt  a.  desire  to  satisfy 
myself  in,  and  finding  you,  as  reported  to  be,  arrested, 
in  trouble,  and  without  friends,  have  come  to  offer 
anything  within  my  reach  and  control,  serving  your 
present  as  urgent  wants.'' 

The  gentlemen  expressed  as  they  felt  their  grati- 
tude for  the  exhibit  in  the  Parson  of  man's  most 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERIS,  GAY.  363 

brilliant  gem,  benevolence,  and  in  a  few  moments  the 
conversation  became  general  between  them  upon  the 
subject  of  procuring  bail,  and  the  release  of  the 
young  gentlemen  from  prison.  Many  suggestions 
were  made,  but  which,  upon  analysis  were  found 
inadequate  to  the  purposes  in  view.  The  clergyman 
was  in  possession  of  a  sufficiency  of  that  class  of  funds 
amply  requisite  to  insure  for  himself  an  inheritance 
in  that  "  bourne  from  which  no  traveller  returns," 
but  with  regard  to  the  kind  required  in  the  present 
emergency — gold  and  silver — lie  was  weighed  and  found 
wanting. 

In  the  continuation  of  the  Parson's  remarks,  he 
said :  "  I  have  heard  it  stated  that  your  fathers  are 
merchants  in  the  City  of  New  York ;  if  so,  there  are 
gentlemen  of  that  profession  here  who  purchase  their 
goods  there,  and  some  among  them  may  be  creditors 
of  the  house  of  '  Laurence  &  Hyne ;'  that  being  the 
case,  they  may  be  prevailed  upon  to  become  your 
bondsmen." 

"  Your  kindness,  sir,"  returned  Laurence,  "  is  what 
we  could  neither  have  looked  for  nor  expected,  and 
at  such  an  hour  as  the  present  one  is  to  us,  is  calcu- 
lated under  the  extremes,  of  want  and  friendship,  to 
rivet  for  you  our  highest  sense  of  gratitude  and 
determined  intent,  if  ever  the  time  may  arrive  to 
reciprocate  it." 

"  The  present,"  replied  the  doctor  of  souls,  "  is  not 
the  time  to  speak  of  reciprocity,  but  one  wherein  '  the 
word  must  be  suited  to  the  action,  and  the  action  to 
the  word.' " 

Here  the  names  of  the  merchants  of  the  village  were 
called  over,  when,  at  the  mention  of  the  firm  of  Long 


364  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

&  Buford,  the  gloom  that  had  so  densely  settled  upon 
the  countenances  of  the  prisoners,  was  quickly  dis- 
pelled, and  their  eyes  sparkling  under  the  influence 
of  the  lucid  ray  of  hope  then  passing  in  their  imagina- 
tion. At  one  and  the  same  moment,  both  making  use 
of  the  same  expression,  said  to  the  clergyman, 

"  You  have  hit  it." 

At  that,  Laurence  requested  their  friend  to  get  him 
a  sheet  of  paper,  pen  and  ink.  Their  friend  did  as  he 
was  requested  to  do,  when  the  following  letter  was 
written  and  signed  by  the  young  men. 

"  Under  arrest, ,  Fa.,  February  3d,  1802. 

"  Messrs.  LONG  &  BUFORD, — 

"  GENTLEMEN, — Travellers  in  your  State  for  some 
time,  we  have  spent  two  months  of  it  in  one  of  your  most 
remote  counties,  where  we  purposed  remaining  till 
the  present  inclement  season,  or,  in  other  words,  the 
winter  should  give  place  to  the  more  mild  and  pleasant 
influence  of  a  spring  atmosphere. 

"  Within  the  period  alluded  to,  that  passion,  incident 
to  all  but,  perhaps,  the  stoic,  became  for  the  first  time 
ours.  Its  influence  being  encouraged  and  reciprocated 
by  those  we  desired  it  should  be,  their  hearts  were 
asked  for  and  obtained.  A  promise  of  marriage  en- 
sued ;  the  application  for  its  fulfilment  to  the  parents 
of  the  ladies,  (here  strangers,  as  we  also  are,)  being 
denied,  an  elopement  was  the  consequence,  and  for 
which  we  are  now  under  arrest,  to  be  imprisoned 
unless  we  obtain  bail  for  the  alleged  offence. 

"  Upon  the  principle  of  favors  received,  not  from  us, 
but  from  our  fathers — we  appeal  to  your  feeling  of 
generosity,  and  cast  ourselves  upon  your  friendship. 


• 

THE   HEIEESSES   OF  FOTHERINGAY.  365 

"  Ten  years  since  we  remember  to  have  seen  both  of 
you  at  the  mercantile  house,  or  in  other  words,  firm 
of  Laurence  &  Hyne,  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
whose  sons  we  are.  At  that  period,  you  were  both 
in  indigent  circumstances,  as  well  as  strangers  to  the 
firm,  notwithstanding,  you  'asked,  and  it  was  given 
unto  you.' 

"  An  amount  of  ten  thousand  dollars  was  extended 
to  your  credit,  and  by  repetitions  of  a  like  nature 
yearly,  you  are  now,  not  only  wealthy,  but  men  of 
indisputable  credit  in  the  city  that  gave  us  birth. 

"  A  knowledge  of  the  facts  instanced,  have  induced 
us  in  the  hour  of  distress,  want  and  necessity,  to  ask 
the  loan — not  of  your  money — but,  of  your  names. 

"  Our  worthy,  and  not  until  very  recently  known 
friend  as  gentleman,  the  Eev.  Mr.  Clermont,  has  in- 
formed us  of  your  being  in  business  here,  and  it  is  to 
his  friendship  only,  that  we  are  gratefully  indebted 
for  the  conveyance  of  this  letter  to  you.  He  is  con- 
versant with  our  history,  and  to  him  we  refer  you,  till 
we  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  yourselves.  A 
prison  may  be  ours  to  receive  you  in,  before  that 
pleasure  is  ours,  as  our  stay  at  the  place  we  now  are 
is  a  thing  entirely  within  the  breast  of  the  court. 
;t  We  are,  dear  sirs, 

"  Very  resp'y, 
"Yours, 

"  GEO.  L.  LAUKERCE, 
"  SAM'L  L.  HYNE." 

"  To  Messrs.  Long  &  Buford,  Merchants. 
"  Present." 


366  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

At  the  reading  aloud,  as  compelled  to  do,  of  their 
letter,  it  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  learned  divine, 
when  the  four  re-entered  the  court-room. 

It  was  now  at  a  late  hour,  and,  as  was  anticipated, 
the  court  adjourned,  and  the  prisoners,  under  control 
of  the  sheriff,  were  taken  to  jail,  followed  there  as  if 
they  had  committed  a  score  of  murders,  by  idle  curi- 
osity, in  an  unfeeling  crowd. 

The  next  morning,  Standly  and  Miller,  exercising 
the  prerogative  vested  in  them,  instructed  the  female 
portion  of  our  fugitive  party  to  prepare  for  a  depar- 
ture from  the  village,  and  return  to  the  home  they  had 
left.  On  reading  the  decree  of  the  court,  the  ladies 
penned  a  request,  to  have  an  interview  with  the  prison- 
ers previous  to  the  departure  then  ordered.  That 
request,  after  some  hesitation  between  their  new  escort, 
was  reluctantly  granted,  and  even  then  upon  condition 
that  they,  Miller  and  Standly,  should  be  present  at 
that  interview.  - 

The  following  morning  to  that  in  which  the  ladies 
had  received  their  instructions,  they  repaired  to  the 
prison,  and,  as  if  they  were  also  culprits,  the  intent 
gaze  of  many  of  their  own,  as  well  as  that  of  the 
opposite  sex,  was  fixed  upon  them,  by  'hich  to  gain 
occular  supplies  of  gossip  material. 

On  entering  the  prison,  that  sort  most  impressive  of 
all  contempt  —  viz.,  silent  —  was  strictly  observed 
toward  Standly  and  Miller,  while  the  prisoners 
directed  their  whole  attention  to  written  remarks  and 
answers  thereto  from  the  ladies. 

Said  Ellen,  in  one  of  them:  "The  laws  of  our 
country  have  succeeded  in  separating  our  persons 
from  each  other,  but  it  is  beyond  the  reach  of  any 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHEKIoSTGAY.  367 

earthly  power  to  do  so,  with  regard  to  memory. 
This  assertion  time  alone  must,  as  it  will,  develope; 
and,  for  the  purpose  of  impressing  that  truth  where 
it  is  desired  it  should  be  stamped — upon  your  hearts 
— for  what  I  write  Susan  ratifies — we  claim  the  right 
as  the  pleasure  of  presenting  these  prayer-books," 
(holding  them  in  her  hands  as  Laurence  read  aloud,) 
"  one  to  yourself,  the  other  to  Mr.  Hyne — as  memen- 
tos of  the  givers." 

Here  two  elegant,  well-bound,  and  gold-edged 
pocket  prayer-books,  were  placed  in  the  hand  of 
each  gentleman ;  and,  in  the  next  moment,  Laurence, 
taking  her  note-book  and  pencil  from  Ellen,  wrote  as 
follows : — 

"  Ladies,  by  you  these  books  are  given, 
To  guide  us  in  our  paths  to  Heaven ; 
Now,  next  to  it,  in  earthly  bliss, 
Are  those  whose  hands  have  given  this." 

Then:— 

"  Farewell,  dear  maids,  yet,  where'er  we  be, 
Our  thoughts  shall  fondly  be  fixed  on  thee 
One  hour  of  absence  to  our  bosoms  prove, 
No  partings  short,  to  they  who  truly  love  '• 

In  a  little  time  after  Laurence  had  finished  writing, 
the  adieu  was  given,  and  the  creaking  of  the  massive 
doors,  as  they  turned  upon  their  hinges,  announcing 
the  signal  of  separation,  the  bolts  within  the  locks 
confirmed  it ;  when  each  one,  engaged  in  thought,  was 
again  surveying,  in  silence,  the  return  journey  of  the 
absent. 

The  morning  following  the  interview  spoken  of,  and 


368  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

after  an  early  breakfast,  more  to  avoid  the  gratification 
of  tattling,  than  their  own  physical  appetites,  our 
ladies  set  out  for  that  home  which  they  had  some 
days  before  left,  in  the  manner  and  under  circum- 
stances with  which  my  readers  are  already  familiar; 
but  not  with  that  pleasure  and  tranquillity  of  mind, 
attended  by  the  accusers  of  their  lovers,  that  they 
would  have  felt,  had  those  they  loved,  and  had  left 
behind  them,  been  present. 

To  loathe  those  who  are  present,  and  to  love  them 
who  are  absent,  are  two  direct  opposites,  as  they  are 
powerfully  operative  principles  in  the  human  bosom. 
Hence,  it.  may  be.  inferred  that  the  time  occupied  by 
the  ladies  in  their  return  home,  was  to  them  particu- 
larly disagreeable,  as  their  elopement  had  been 
fraught  with  the  most  elevated  hopes,  as,  desire  of 
happiness. 

The  days  had  now  moved  with  all  their  slowly  mea- 
sured passings,  upon  fondly  anticipated  relief,  and  the 
fourteenth  one  gradually  giving  its  light  through  the 
iron-bound  gratings  of  their  prison  windows,  when 
still  no  appearance  of,  nor  intelligence  from  Long  & 
Bufort  had  been  seen  or  heard  of.  That,  however, 
was  not  Clermont's  fault,  but  those  of  whom  he  had 
been  iti  search,  and  waiting  the  hourly  expected  re- 
turn of  both,  from  a  business  transaction  in  the  coun- 
try, at  some  distance  from  town. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  im- 
prisonment, Clermont  repaired  to  the  counting-room 
of  Messrs.  Long  &  Bufort,  and  finding  them  both  in 
and  disengaged,  presented  the  letter  of  his  two  friends, 
after  some  preliminary  remarks. 

The  letter  was  read  by  both — a  few  moments  were 


THE    HEIKESSES   OF   FOTHEKINGAY.  369 

spent  in  that  kind  of  silent  indifference,  usually  dis- 
played upon  the  countenances  of  those  with  whom 
avarice  becomes  a  god,  friendship  but  a  name,  grati- 
tude a  crime,  and  distress  a  scorn. 

Clermont  was  too  good  a  judge  of  mankind  to  be 
mistaken  in  the  appearance  of  Long  &  Buford,  to  then 
suppose  for  a  moment  that  the  appeal  of  his  friends  to 
them  for  relief  would  be  granted,  and  waiting  till  the 
merchants  (to  verify  the  remark  contained  in  Holy 
Writ,)  "  Out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth 
speaketh,"  would  do  so,  he  was  much  mortified  to 
hear  Long  say,  "  We  will  not  do  it." 

Here  every  argument  in  his  power  to  effect  a. 
change  in  the  iron  cased  decision  he  had  just  heard, 
was  urged  by  Clermont ;  but  to  those  he  was  speaking, 
his  persuasive  as  impressive  language  was  of  no  more 
use  than  the  attempt  to  create  fire  upon  ice,  by  the 
application  of  water. 

"  Then,  gentlemen,"  continued  Clermont,  "you  will 
for  the  sake  of  politeness,  if  from  no  other  motive, 
answer  the  letter  of  the  unfortunate  applicants  to  your 
generosity,  whereby  to  afford  some  sort  of  relief  from 
the  mortification  of  mind  I  feel,  as  their  friend,  at 
your  refusal  of  aid  in  this,  their  time  of  distress  and 
appeal  to  you  for  assistance." 

"  The  answer  to  their  letter,  sir,  will  cost  us  but 
little  trouble,  compared  with  the  unpleasantness  we 
experience  in  listening  to  the  warmth  with  which  you 
advocate  the  cause  of  your  prisoner  friends,  and  here," 
continued  Long,  "let  me  inform  you  that  it  is  only 
out  of  the  respect  entertained  for  their  friend,  that 
their  letter  would  be  at  all  noticed.  It  shall  be 
answered." 

21 


370  THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY. 

"  Now  and  by  me  ?"  asked  the  Clergyman. 

"  Yes,"  was  the  cold  reply  —  and  in  a  few  moments 
after  the  following  was  written  arid  signed  by  our 
merchants  : 


"  Fetfy  17,  1802. 

"To  MESSRS.  GEO.  L.  LAURENCE,  ) 
"  SAML.  L.  HYNE  :      j 

"Your  letter  under  date  the  3d  instant,  was  handed 
us  this  morning  by  your  friend,  the  Eev.  Clermont. 
You  are  frank  in  the  intelligence  of  your  being  so- 
journers  jn  our  State  —  of  your  attachments  —  your 
elopement  with  the  objects  of  your  affection  —  of  your 
arrest  for  offence  —  of  your  being  compelled  to  impri- 
sonment, unless  bail  can  be  procured  ;  and  then,  after 
calling  our  attention  to  the  kindness,  it  is  true,  of 
your  fathers  to  us,  you  ask  our  interference  in  your 
case,  so  far  as  to  be  your  bondsmen.  In  reply  to  all 
of  which  you  have  apprized  us,  there  is  one  thing 
only,  we  think  proper  to  notice  and  that  is,  our 
opinions  are  that  your  love  affairs  have  not  been 
conducted  with  any  regard  to  propriety,  nor  with  that 
of  sound  discretion  ;  consequently,  the  obligations  of 
which  you  remind  us  to  your  fathers,  are  not  of  such 
natures  as  to  induce  us  to  become  your  bail  ;  the  result 
of  which  might  be,  the  furnishing  of  the  means  for 
you  to  do  worse  instead  of  better. 

"  For  the  sake  of  the  respect  due  to  your  fathers, 
we  deprecate  your  condition,  but  no  help  can  be 
afforded  you  by  "  JAMES  LONG. 

"  EGBERT  BUFORD." 


THE   HEIRESSES  OP   FOTIIERIXGAY.  371 

"And  is  this  the  reward  of  kindness  bestowed?" 
said  Clermont,  after  he  had  read,  and  yet  holding  in 
his  hand  the  folded  and  then  opened  frigid  epistle  of 
the  purse  proud  animals,  who  had  now  become  in- 
different to  the  obligations  due  as  payable  to  their 
benefactors. 

"It  is  not  our  practice — nor  is  it  our  business — nor 
have  we  even  the  inclination  if  time  did  permit  it,  to 
spend  in  argument  upon  what  you  have  just  asked 
us,"  resumed  Long,  "and  the  earlier  you  leave  us 
now,  the  like  earlier  you-  will  be  enabled  to  visit  the 
detected  fugitives,  and  to  tell  them,  that  we  will  not 
interfere  to  save  them  from  any  portion  of  the  punish- 
ment their  imprudence  dictates  the  suffering  for." 

"  Were  you  a  sensible  man,  -sir,  you  would  not  speak 
thus  to  me;  and  the  only  palliation  for  your  impu- 
dence and  ignorance  is — the  compassion  I  entertain 
for  you  under  the  influence  of  both,"  replied  Cler- 
mont. 

At  that  the  reverend  gentleman,  politely  bowing,  with- 
drew, and  in  the  next  hour  was  admitted  (the  jailor 
accompanying)  to  the  presence  of  his  two  friends. 

There  is  no  analogy  nearer  the  four  legged  animal, 
the  name  of  which  can  be  arrived  at  by  the  ortho- 
graphical arrangement  of  three  letters  of  the  alpha- 
bet, than  the  man  void  of  a  sense  of  gratitude.  The 
body  of  the  first  is  all  over  covered  with  hair  and 
bristles.  Grunting,  he  moves;  grunting,  he  eats, 
drinks  and  sleeps ;  grunting,  rises  from  his  wallow,  and 
grunting  he  returns  to  it — without  the  least  regard  to 
the  condition  of  his  fellow  animal.  The  latter  has  a 
body,  likewise,  susceptible  of  the  growth  of  hair, 


372  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

with  the  exception  of  the  palms  of  the  hands  and 
soles  of  the  feet. 

When,  therefore,  man  becomes  ungrateful  he  is 
only  a  two  legged  ***,  and  grunting  out  his  existence 
here,  goes  to  a  clime  unknown,  where  he  meets  with 
an  increase  of  the  amount  of  debt,  and  where  he 
learns  the  punishment  due  to  the  perpetrators  of  the 
most  base  of  crimes.  But  reader,  here  as  elsewhere, 
we  have  trespassed  upon  your  kindness  and  indul- 
gence, and  again,  asking  your  forgiveness,  will  pro- 
ceed: 

The  interior  of  the  prison  room,  in  which  our  fugi- 
tives were  confined,  presented  nothing  to  the  sight 
nor  imagination  like  that  of  comfort ;  on  two  sides  of 
it,  and  projecting  from  the  walls,  were  stone  pillars  of 
about  eighteen  inches  diameter  and  two  feet  high, 
standing  at  equal  distance  of  some  three  feet  apart ; 
these  serving  the  purpose  of  seats,  were  barely 
touched  by  hanging  chains,  suspended  from  large 
iron  bolts  and  rings,  fastened  in  the  wall.  To  the 
ends  of  the  main  chains  were  attached  smaller  ones, 
having  to  them  manacles,  for  the  better  security  of 
capital  offenders  against  the  ought-to-be-chaste  doc- 
trines of  -the  law.  A  dim  light  reflected  from  small 
apertures  at  considerable  height  in  the  prison  walls, 
was  that  alone  by  which  to  discriminate  objects; 
while  about  rnid-way  of  the  opposite  wall  was  a 
small  as  limited  excuse  for  the  comforts  of  fire.  At 
one  end  of  the  room  was  a  like  miserable  apology 
for  water  privileges,  near  which  sat  an  empty  earthen 
dish  containing  two  knives  and  forks,  all  five  of 
which  articles  seemed  to  have  been  long  in  the  duty 
of  serving  criminals;  and  the  clean  dirt  upon  them 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  373 

appeared  to  have  been  preserved  as  a  sort  of  memento 
of  the  distinguished  service  to  which  they  had  been 
put,  while  upon  its  floor  laid  some  three  or  four  filthy, 
as  long-in-service,  blankets ;  to  some,  perhaps,  who 
had  risen  from  them  for  the  last  time,  before  being 
suspended  between  heaven  and  earth. 

Upon  those  requisite  as  time  honored  servants,  our 
young  strangers  were  reclining,  at  the  entry  into  their 
prison  of  their  Rev.  friend.  At  his  entry  the  impulse 
of  thoughts  upon  liberty,  strengthened  by  an  im- 
agined Herculean  anchor  of  hope,  brought  them  erect, 
and  seizing  a  hand  each,  of  Clermont,  welcomed  his 
return  to  them. 


CHAPTER    XLI. 

Time  and  circumstances  are  the  indelible  land-marks  of  the  acts  and 
motives  of  men — the  former  to  conceive,  the  latter  to  develope  all  that 
nobleness  of  soul  which  his  Maker  designed  him  for — or  to  sink  aa  far 
beneath  the  sphere,  for  which  intended,  as  he  is  above  the  rest  of 
animated  nature. 

"  MR.  JAILOR,"  said  Laurence,  after  the  reception 
of  Clermont  by  himself  and  Hyne,  "  you  are  sensible 
of  the  fact  that  we  have  no  means  in  our  possession, 
by  which  to  attempt,  let  alone  effect,  our  escape  from 
these  walls.  As  for  our  friend,  Mr.  Clermont,  you 
can  search  him  and  ascertain  for  yourself  the  truth 
.  of  what  I  say — when  convinced,  I  hope  you  will  have 
politeness  or  sense  enough  to  know,  that  your  presence 
is  neither  agreeable  nor  needed  here,  and  that  the 
turn  of  that  key  now  in  your  hand  upon  those  who 


374  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

are  now  before  you,  is  sufficient  to  make  you  easy 
with  regard  to  your  responsibilities  and  care  neces- 
sary to  be  taken  of  us." 

At  the  remarks  of  Laurence,  the  stern  countenance 
of  the  '•  turn-key"  became  serenely  calm,  and  betoken- 
ing traits  of  complaisance  and  benevolence  to  which 
his  inward  self  had  been  long  a  stranger,  he  said, 
"Such  men  as  you  are  and  your  fellow-prisoner — my 
key  has  never  before  turned  upon — there  is  a  some- 
thing in  your  manners  and  deportment  above  my 
comprehension  to  describe,  but  which  when  seen  and 
heard,  softens  the  heart  and  makes  the  sensible 
stranger  dear  to  the  illiterate."  Thus  saying,  he 
placed  the  key  in  the  lock,  moved  back  the  bolt, 
drew  the  key,  and  soon  outside,  replaced  and  turning 
it  again,  our  three  friends  were  alone  together  for  the 
first  time  since  the  arrest. 

"  The  reply  of  that  jailor  to  you,"  said  Clermont  to 
Laurence,  "  reminds  me  of  the  remarks  of  Xanthippus, 
who  being  asked,  '  wherein  the  learned  differed  from 
the  unlearned,'  replied,  '  send  them  naked  to  strangers 
and  you  will  see.'  " 

"  We  are  doubtless  free?  Have  you  brought  the 
bond  already  drawn  up  and  prepared  for  our  signa- 
tures ?"  eagerly  enquired  Hyne,  as  the  three  sat  upon 
a  stone  seat  each. 

"  From  the  source  you  both  have  a  right  to  expect, 
as  I  have  anticipated  it — there  is  a  direct  refusal,  and 
myself  as  well  as  both  of  you  insulted,"  replied  Cler- 
mont. At  my  interview  with  those,  whom  circum- 
stances ought  to  have  instantly  made  your  friends,  I 
had  like  to  have  forgotten  my  position  in  this  tran- 
sitory life — and  was  near  being  provoked  to  do  after  the 


THE    IIEIHESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  375 

manner  of  one  of  the  olden  time,  in  the  case  of  Mai- 
chus — the  sword  of  contempt,  however,  is  with  such 
men  as  Long  and  Buford,  often  better  than  that  of 
steel.  The  latter,"  continued  Clermont,  "  dispatches 
quickly,  while  the  former,  when  conscience  does  its 
duty,  keeps  ever  kindled  in  the  bosom,  a  kind  of 
mental  hell  with  those  who  forsake  their  friends  in 
the  hour  of  need.  Such  are  they  of  whom  I  have  just 
spoken,  and  here  (holding  the  letter  in  his  hand  as  he 
expressed  it)  is  ft  document  that  proves  my  words, 
regarding  the  ungrateful." 

Here  Clermont,  placing  the  letter  in  the  hands  of 
those  to  whom  it  belonged,  its  contents  were  soon 
scanned  by  the  prisoners,  with  that  sort  of  feeling 
engendering  scorn,  contempt  and  pity.  The  first,  for 
comment  upon  their  love  affairs ;  the  next,  for  dupli- 
city; and  the  last,  for  the  want  of  soul  manifested  by 
its  authors. 

In  a  little  time,  it  was  determined  upon  to  answer 
Long  &  Buford's  letter,  and,  after  some  persuasion, 
Clermont  was  prevailed  upon  to  be  the  bearer  of  it  to 
the  house  of  Long  &  Buford. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  Clermont,  "I  assure  you  that 
nothing  but  the  esteem  I  entertain  for  you  would 
induce  me  to  meet,  on  business  again,  the  clowns  of 
whom  we  have  not  improperly  been  speaking;  and 
let  it  be  here  perfectly  understood,  that  it  is  for  your 
sakes  alone  that  I  consent  to  and  will  do  so." 

At  the  consent  sought  for,  Laurence,  striking  the 
prison  door  with  a  hand-cuff  chain  that  reached  it,  the 
jailor  soon  entered,  and  being  requested,  furnished  the 
prisoners  with  a  make-shift  for  a  small  table,  providing 
them  also  with  pen,  ink  and  paper,  and  a  candle ;  then 


376  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIEEINGAY. 

withdrawing  from  their  presence,  the  key  was  again 
turned,  when  the  following  was  written  : 

"Prison  of ,  Virginia,  FeVy  17, 1802. 

"  Messrs.  LONG  &  BUFORD, — 

"GENTLEMEN, — Yours  of  this  date,  in  answer  to 
ours  of  the  3d  instant,  is  before  us,  and  were  it  not  for 
the  feelings  ever  entertained  by  us  of  honor,  and  that 
urging  in  the  most  imperative  terms  the  defence  of 
ourselves  and  of  our.  acts,  against  the  aspersions  of 
the  illiberal  and  unjust,  we  would  disdain  to  answer 
an  epistle  coming  from  the  source  or  its  like  elsewhere, 
that  yours  has  to  us. 

"  Bead  that  you  may  see !  and  reflect  well  upon  it 
as  emanating  from  us,  in  order  that  you  may  know 
(if  it  offends)  to  whom  you  may  look  for  redress. 

"  And  know,  also,  that  though  a  prison  now  confines 
us,  it  will  not  always  be  so,  and  that  we  shall  at  some 
future  time  see  you. 

"  To  become  offended  at  your  refusal  to  befriend  us, 
would  be  a  direct  tax  upon  good  sense,  and  annoyance 
to  that  which  we  profess  to  be — gentlemen — the  re- 
verse of  which  appears  prominently  shown  by  you  in 
meddling  with  that  with  which  you  have  no  business, 
and  for  the  performance  of  by  us,  you  have  thought 
proper  to  predicate  your  refusal  upon  to  aid  us. 

"  Could  we  have  been  otherwise  than  frank  in  our 
letter  to  you? — it  would  have  been  a  breach  of  honor, 
and  a  subversion  of  that  integrity  that  ought  to  sus- 
tain a  gentleman  under  all  circumstances ;  ^  but  to 
speak  of  this  to  you,  and  such  as  you  are,  is  like  the 
throwing  of  '  pearls  before  swine.' 

M  Upon  the  subject  of  reciprocal  favor  and  friend- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  377 

ship  returned,  with  you  it  is  like  a  wrecked  vessel 
upon  the  boisterous  ocean,  which  becoming  cairn, 
seems  forgetful,  as  it  were,  of  its  turmoiled  waves,  as 
destructive  waves  that  had  pervaded  it.  You  have 
been  served,  but  to  the  offspring  of  those  by  whom 
you  have  become  so — there  is  a  direct  denial.  The 
excuse  offered  by  you  for  this  is  too  base  for  com- 
ment, and  too  low  for  further  notice — as  in  your 
remarks  the  lie  is  indelibly  prefixed  to  an  impress  of 
which  you  ought  to  be  ashamed. 

"  He  who  presents  this  is  our  unchanged  friend,  the 
throb  of  whose  heart  in  sincerity  is  what  makes  the 
difference  between  himself  and  you.  His  feelings 
have  been  injured  in  our  behalf  by  you.  Do  so  no 
more !  but  treat  him  with,  if  you  know  what  it  is, 
respect ;  or  rely  upon  it  that  you  account  for  the  re- 
verse to 

"  G-EO.  L.  LAURENCE, 
"SAM.  L.  HYNE." 

Our  prisoners  had  scarcely  finished  and  read  the 
contents  of  their  letter  to  Clermont,  ere  their  atten- 
tion was  drawn  to  the  creaking  of  the  massive  iron- 
grated  door  as  it  turned  upon  its  hinges.  In  a  little 
time  was  heard  a  key  applied  to  the  lock  from  the 
outside  of  the  inner-door,  when  the  jailor,  accompanied 
by  Mercer,  the  keeper  of  the  Eagle  Hotel,  entered  their 
apartment.  The  former  of  the  two  making,  what  he, 
in  his  civilities  shown,  had  long  been  a  stranger  to,  a 
polite  bow  to  our  prisoners,  and  addressing  them  said, 
"It  is  not  my  wish  to  interrupt  the  private  interview 
between  you  and  Mr.  Clermont,  gentlemen,  especially 
when  I  am  convinced  neither  one  nor  the  other  of 


378  THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERINGAT. 

you  three  would  do  any  thing  in  that  privacy  which 
would  endanger  my  responsibility  as  a  public  officer, 
nor  the  confidence  I  repose  in  you  as  gentlemen. 
And,"  continued  the  jailor,  "  why  I  have  done  so  on 
the  present  occasion  is,  the  urgent  necessity  to  see  you 
expressed  to  me  by  Mr.  Mercer." 

"You  are  complimentary,  Mr.  Jailor,"  returned 
Laurence;  "and  let  me,  as  a  stranger,  inform  you 
that  the  unexpected  display  of  civility  shown  by  you 
has,  but  in  one  solitary  exception,  and  that  is  Mr. 
Clermont  and  family,  caused  a  lenity  from  myself 
and  my  fellow-prisoner  towards  the  citizens  of  this 
village,  similar  to  that  shown  by  One  of  old,  in  the 
case  of  Lot,  and  the  little  city  of  Zoar ;  and  what  that 
is  with  us,  I  shall  leave  it  with  you  and  your  fellow- 
citizens  to  guess  at." 

"  What  is  your  business  with  us  ?"  turning  to 
Mercer,  continued  Laurence. 

Mercer  being  in  the  hearing  of  the  remarks  that 
had  just  been  made  by  Laurence  to  the  jailor,  and 
knowing  that  he  stood  implicated  among  others  in 
the  village,  when  impertinent  curiosity  and  a  love  of 
meddling  had  rendered  them  a  bore  to  the  impri- 
soned strangers,  exhibiting  some  confusion,  at  length 
replied : 

"  I  have  come  to  see  you  about  a  man  who  stopped 
at  my  house  last  evening.  He  is,  as  I  believe,  crazy, 
but  sometimes  speaks  sensibly.  Your  servants," 
continued  Mercer,  "that  came  here  with  you,  and 
whom  you  discharged  the  other  day,  and  told  to  go 
hbme,  he  calls  his  sons.  He  inquired  where  they 
were,  and  when  I  told  him  they  had  gone  home, 
said,  '  Where  are  the  gentlemen  they  came  with  ?' 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  379 

I  replied,  '  They  are  in  prison.'  At  that  he  sat  for 
some  moments  silent,  with  his  eyes  intently  fixed 
upon  the  carpet  on  the  floor  of  his  room,  then,  as  it 
were,  recollecting  himself,  he  said :  '  Prisons  are 
made  for  transgressors,  but  it  is  not  always  the  case 
that  those  who  deserve  them  most  get  there.'  On 
asking  him  if  he  knew  you,  he  replied,  'It  is  a 
pleasure  to  know  gentlemen,  but  often  attended  with 
great  inconvenience  to  know  those  who  are  not  so.' 
His  manners  and  actions,"  said  the  hotel-keeper, 
"  have  excited  a  good  deal  of  curiosity  among  those 
who  have  seen  him; -and  his  harmless  ways  create 
sport  for  the  people  of  the  village,"  continued 
Mercer,  as  his  broad  mouth,  in  a  half-sneering  grin, 
exposed  a  something,  more  like  a  poor  man's  lease, 
than  feelings  of  sympathy. 

"Ah,  indeed!"  replied  Laurence;  "then  mirth,  at 
the  expense  of  the  unfortunate,  is  among  the  chief 
excellencies  of  your  town,  I  perceive." 

Mercer  felt  the  depth  of  the  cut,  as  intended,  and 
in  a  few  moments,  recovering  from  his  embarrassment, 
added : 

"From  what  I  can  understand  from  his  discon- 
nected sentences,  the  Maniac  wishes  to  see  you  two 
gentlemen  ;  and  I  have  come  to  know  if  his  presence 
would  be  agreable  to  you." 

"  You  are  kind,  Mr.  Mercer;  it  certainly  would  be; 
and  if  the  unfortunate  desires  it,  please,  by  permis- 
sion of  Mr.  Jailor,  conduct  him  here,"  continued 
Laurence. 

Here  the  Jailor  and  Mercer  withdrew,  and  the  three 
friends  were  again  alone. 

"  I  wonder  what  has  brought  that  Maniac  here,  and 


380  THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTIIERINGAY. 

what  thought  impelled  it,  in  a  moment  of  rationality 
with  him,  to  inquire  for  his  sons,  and  then  express  a 
wish  to  see  us  ?" 

"  Whatever  it  may  be,  it  is  a  something  more  for 
your  fruitful  thought  and  indulgent  mode  of  deci- 
phering, Sam,"  said  Laurence;  "for  my  inclination  is 
still  extremely  limited,  and,  indeed,  more  so  now 
than  on  a  former  occasion,  to  say  anything  to  him." 

"  But,  George,"  said  Hyne,  "  you  forget  yourself. 
Did  not  everything  turn  out  beyond  our  most  remote 
thoughts,  for  our  benefit,  at  the  time  you  allude  to  ? 
And  would  it  not,  on  the  present  occasion,  be  wise 
for  us  to  pay  strict  attention  to  what  he  may,  in  his 
mixture  of  delirium  and  sense,  have  to  say  ?" 

"  Perhaps  so,"  replied  Laurence. 

"  Gentlemen,  your  private  matters  make  me  an  in 
truder ;  and  it  is  my  place  to  leave  you,  and  attend  to 
the  delivery  of  your  letter,  if  you  will  fold  and  direct 
it,"  said  Clairmont,  as  he  rose  from  his  seat,  and  was 
advancing  to  give  the  door  a  rap,  calling  the  attention 
of  the  jailor. 

"  Not  so  quickly,",  replied  Laurence.  "  Please  re- 
sume your  seat,  it  is  yourself,  sir,  from  whom  the 
smallest  share  of  civility  would  ever  'be  grateful  to  our 
feelings ;  and  the  high-toned  friendship  shown  us  by, 
and  since  our  acquaintance  with  you,  renders  you 
not  only  worthy  of,  but  welcome  with  us  to  know,  all 
the  past,  present  and  future,  of  pleasure  and  difficul- 
ties, directly  or  indirectly,  incident  to  us." 

Laurence  had  scarcely  given  this  earnest  of  their 
mutual  esteem  for  the  clergyman,  'ere  the  clatter  of 
the  keys  within  the  door  locks,  announced  the  ap- 
proach of  the  jailor  when,  in  the  next  moment,  him- 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTHEEINGAY.  381 

self,  the  landlord,  and  the  Maniac,  were  in  the  presence 
of  the  prisoners  and  their  reverend  friend. 

After  a  few  moments  of  profound  silence,  Hyne, 
addressing  himself  to  the  jailor,  said, 

"  If,  sir,  you  have  satisfied  yourself  that  this  man 
has  nothing  about  his  person,  serving  as  aids  to  our 
escape  from  your  custody,  it  is  our  wish  to  be  alone 
with  him,  with  the  exception  of  that  gentleman, 
(pointing  to  Clermont,)  when  yours  and  Mr.  Mercer's 
absence,  will  be  another  proof  of  the  kindness  you 
have  extended  to  us." 

The  jailor  very  kindly,  as  readily,  acceded  to  the 
request  made ;  but  the  landlord,  full  of  that  curiosity 
with  which  the  meddlesome  are  impregnated,  said  to 
Hyne, 

"  I  am  curious  to  know  what  this  man's  business  is 
with  you  and  your  fellow  prisoner,  and  must  insist 
upon  hearing  it." 

Hyne  looked  at  the  animal  for  a  moment,  and  said, 
with  a  collected  degree  of  cool  contempt,  "  Whatever 
may  be  your  curiosity  and  your  fortified  reasons  upon 
it,  to  hear  what  this  man  may  say  to  us,  sir,  are  both 
at  our  option  to  allow  or  refuse;  the  latter  is  most 
agreeable  to  us — you  will  please  withdraw." 

Little  acquainted  with  politeness,  the  landlord  could 
understand  but  one  thing,  and  that  was  the  indignant 
look  of  Hyne,  when,  in  the  next  moment,  the  jailor 
and  Mercer  were  locked  out,  while  the  three  strangers 
and  Clairmont  remained  within  the  prison. 

To  be  marred  in  our  affections,  consequent  upon 
breaches  of  faith  and  confidence  reposed,  is  often  pro- 
ductive of  irreparable  ills ;  and  to  be  imprisoned  be- 
cause we  love,  is  another  strange  feature  in  (using  part 


382  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

of  the  poet's  remark)  the  "inhumanity  of  man !"  You 
have  seen  it  even,  so  here  recorded,  and  if,  reader,  the 
future  events  relative  to  the  imprisoned  and  those  who 
are  free,  as  spoken  of  in  this  work,  with  all  of  which 
we  have  endeavored  to  amuse,  can  continue  to  interest 
you,  for  your  sake  we  will  say  more  in  the  next,  while 
we  ask  leave,  with  due  deference  to  your  permission, 
here  to  close  the  present  chapter. 


CHAPTER    XLII. 

The  incidents  of  life,  unknown  but  as  they  appear  on  trial,  are  the  things 
by  which  man  is  proven  deservedly  great,  or  meanly  low. 

DURING  the  converse  between  Hyne,  the  Jailor,  and 
Mercer,  the  Maniac  appeared  indifferent  to  passing 
events  ;  while,  as  he  sat  upon  one  of  the  pillars  of  stone 
spoken  of,  he  took  hold,  then  letting  them  go  again, 
of  the  chains  and  hand-cuff  near  him ;  and  occasion- 
ally, with  a  perfect  appearance  of  void  in  the  expression 
of  countenance  and  perturbed  eye,  would  survey 
everything  in  the  prison; — he  seemed  to  watch,  with 
an  intensity  of  look,  the  key-hole  of  its  door. 

As  Laurence  said,  the  task  was  Hyne's,  to  glean  by 
interrogation  what  might  chance  to  fall,  of  sense,  from 
the  Maniac,  and  accordingly  Hyne  ventured  the 
attempt. 

"  We  are  glad  to  see  you  friend,"  said  Hyne. 

"  Friend,  friend ! — ah !  yes,  that  word  means  a  con- 
fidential," replied  the  Maniac. 

"  Did  you  wish  to  see  us  ?  "  continued  Hyne. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  383 

"Wish,"  replied  the  stranger,  "Yes,  you  may 
wish  and  you  may  be  gratified. " 

Here  the  Maniac  was  for  some  time  silent,  and 
taking  the  chain  and  handcuff  again  in  his  hand 
seemed  absorbed  in  thought,  while,  with  a  wild  gaze, 
his  eyes  were  fixed  upon  those  before  him. 

"  You  will  be  out-generalled  now,  Sam,  "  said  Lau- 
rence, "as  you  seem  not  to  have  hit  the  proper  cue, 
to  whatever  of  sense  from  this  man  might  chance  to 
be  a  reply  to  your  questions. " 

"  It  is  not  good  to  be  desponding  as  long  as  there 
is  hope.  .1  shall  try  it  again,  "  replied  Hyne. 

"I  am  of  your  opinion,  Mr.  Laurence,  "  said  Cler- 
mont,  "  and  have  ever  thought  that  of  all  the  condi- 
tions, incident  to  man,  that  of  settled  insanity  is  the 
most  horrid." 

"  Horrid !"  instantly  replied  the  Maniac,  as  he  fixed 
his  eyes  intently  upon  Clermont,  and  as  he  let  go  the 
articles  he  had  hold  of. 

For  some,  time  the  stranger  was  left  in  his  (if  it 
may  be  so  called  in  him)  reverie,  while  a  brief  account 
was  being  given  by  Laurence  to  their  friend  of  his  and 
Hyne's  love  affairs — cause  of  their  elopement  with 
the  ladies,  and  of  their  unfortunate  arrest  for  it. 

At  the  mention  of  the  name  of  Sligo,  as  if  nature 
in  its  towering  influence  upon  parental  affection  had 
in  the  benighted  mind  of  idiotism  ordered  it,  the  Ma- 
niac seemed  immediately  sensible  of  what  was  being 
said,  and  in  reply  to  that  part  of  the  remarks  of  Lau- 
rence "  those  young  men  are  our  friends,"  quickly  ob- 
served "yes,  and  what  has  become  of  them?" 

"  Of  whom,"  interrupted  Laurence. 

"  My  sons,"  was  the  reply. 


384  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

Here,  without  waiting  for  the  response  of  Hyne, 
the  stranger  continued:  "The  ills  of  life  set  heavy 
upon  all,  and  as  one  of  the  victims  of  such,  I  feel 
thankful  for  intermediate  moments  of  rationality,  in 
which  to  think  and  speak  sense,  and  to  perform  the 
duties  entrusted  to  my  care.  You  say,"  continued 
the  stranger,  "  my  sons  are  your  friends;  so  am  I,  but 
of  me,  as  yet,  you  know  little,  and  of  that  little  will 
presently  know  more."  Then  continuing,  he  said : 
"  Where  are  my  sons  now." 

On  being  told  that  they  had  left  a  few  days  since 
for  their  home,  he  added;  "It  is  well,  I  know  their 
duties,  and  where  they  have  gone,  events  there  will 
prove  them  still  more  your  friends." 

A  short  interval  of  silence  here  ensued,  when  the 
stranger  again  said  to  Hyne,  "Am  I  in  the  presence 
of  one  whom  you  and  Mr.  Laurence  know  to  be  your 
confidant,  and  who  can  be  intrusted  in  hearing  what 
I  am  instructed  and  wish  now  to  say  to  you  ?" 

"  Do  you  mean  this  gentleman  ?"  pointing  to  Cler- 
mont,  as  he  said  so,  asked  Hyne. 

"  The  same,"  continued  the  stranger. 

"  What  you  may  say  to  Mr.  Laurence  and  myself  is 
equally  safe  in  his  keeping,  as  it  will  be  in  ours,"  con- 
tinued Hyne. 

"  Assured  of  that,  I  have  complied  with  the  first 
part  of  my  promise  to  those  who  are  absent,  and  for 
whose  sake  and  yours,  I  am  now  before  you,"  returned 
the  stranger. 

In  ecstacies  at  the  success  of  Hyne,  in  his  several 
attempts  at  hitting  upon  points,  from  which  to  derive 
a  sensible  series  of  communications  of  the  stranger, 
Laurence  gave  Hyne  no  time  to  frame  other  leading 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  885 

remarks  to  further  discoveries,  and  addressing  the 
stranger  immediately,  said, 

"  What,  sir,  is  the  other  part  of  the  promise  of  which 
you  have  just  spoken  ?" 

"  I  need  not  say  more  than  what  I  have  just  said, 
till  that  which  I  have  for  you,  may  (if  at  all)  make  it 
necessary  to  do,"  replied  the  stranger. 

The  cloak  spoken  of  in  a  former  part  of  this  work, 
was  the  outer  covering  of  his  person  at  the  time  of  the 
stranger's  interview  with  Laurence  and  Hyne  in  the 
prison  of  **********?  and  there  taking  it  off,  a  like 
process  was  observed  with  his  hunting-shirt — the  ma- 
terial of  which  is  also  familiar  to  the  mind  of  my 
readers.  When  he  had  taken  the  latter  from  his  per- 
son, a  large  knife  that  occupied  a  black  leather  scab- 
bard, attached  to  the  inside  of  the  left  breast  of  his 
vest,  was  drawn  with  it,  the  stranger,  commenced  cut- 
ing  some  stitches  in  the  lining  of  his  hunting-shirt, 
immediately -in  a  line  with  that  portion  of  it  covered, 
when  fastened,  by  the  dressed  bear-skin  belt,  that 
buckled  round  his  bodies. 

In  a  little  time  was  drawn  out  a  sealed  package. 

"  Here,"  said  the  stranger,  as  he  presented  it  to 
Laurence,  "  is  what  has  given  me  much  concern  for 
the  safe  delivery  of;  and  which,  with  you,  may  serve 
as  a  fulfilment  of  my  second  promise,  as  also  satis- 
faction to  the  question  asked  me  a  few  moments  since." 

Upon  breaking  the  seal,  and  opening  the  envelope, 
it  was  found  to  contain  two  letters — one  from  the  City 
of  New  York — the  other  from  Fotheringay. 

It  is  human  nature  to  attend  first,  amid  the  affairs  of 
life,  to  that  which  most  interests  you  ;  and  in  the  inci- 
dents now  being  unfolded  to  my  readers,  and  particu- 

25 


386  THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

larly  the  fair  portion  of  them,  the  gentlemen  to  whom 
they  were  addressed,  are  excusable  for  reading  first 
the  following  one : 

"  Fotheringay,  I2th  FeVy,  1802. 

"  GENTLEMEN, — Your  faithful  guides  have  returned, 
and  just  in  time,  in  conjunction  with  our  efforts,  to  do 
you  another  signal  favor. 

"  From  the  date  of  this  you  perceive  also  that  we 
are  at  '  the  mansion.' 

"Our  fastidious  attendants  played  the  escort,  but 
never  can  have  the  credit  from  us  due,  gentlemen  for 
bringing  us  home. 

"  Everything  here  since  our  return  seems  to  wear 
the  appearance  of  dark  design,  intrigue  and  suspicion. 
But  few  direct  signs,  nor  even  written  communications 
have  been  given  to,  or  passed  with  us,  yet  looks  and 
actions,  are,  as  we  suppose,  forebodings  of  approach- 
ing ill. 

"By  a  note  from  a  lady  friend  of  ours,  and  of 
course  of  yours,  though  unknown  to  you,  we  learn 
of  the  perfidy  of  Standly.  He  has  boasted  of  the 
overthrow  by  him  of  your  anticipated  happiness,  and 
further,  that  he  has,  and  intends  still  to  do,  intercepted 
all  the  letters  of  your  fathers  to  you,  so  long  as  you 
remain  in  the  "West. 

"Feeling  indignant  at  such  treachery  as  black  un- 
gratefulness, we  have  assumed  the  province,  thinking 
it  in  accordance  with  your  approvals  to  attempt  the 
thwarting,  as  far  as  possible,  of  Standly's  designs. 
Accordingly,  we  wrote  to  one  of  your  late  guides, 
the  day  after  the  receipt  of  the  note  alluded  to,  and 
through  its  author,  requesting  him,  without  delay,  to 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHEKINGAY.  387 

go  and  get  from  the  post-office  (if  any)  the  letters  that 
might  be  for  either  one  or  the  other  of  you.  That 
trust  has  been  faithfully  complied  with,  and  the  letter 
herewith  inclosed  is  the  result. 

"The  unfortunate  whose  first  appearance  before 
you  was  in  the  library,  is  he  to  whom  this  and  that 
letter  are  confided  for  safe  keeping,  as  sure  delivery. 
One  of  his  sons  i&  now  waiting  for  this  at  a  memo- 
rable spot  with  you  and  us,  the  "pine  thicket,"  and 
where  he  will  receive  it,  at  one  o'clock  to-night,  from 
the  hands  of  faithful  Sanco,  from  ever  yours, 

"ELLEN, 
"  SUSAN." 
"Messrs  Laurence  and  Hyne,  Prison  of ,  Va." 

After  the  prisoners  had  read  the  letter  of  the 
ladies,  they  handed  it  open  to  Clermont,  without  a 
single  comment,  and  while  he  was  engaged  in  the 
reading 'of  it,  they  opened  and  read  the  other  one, 
containing  the  following  communication  to  them : — ' 

"  City  of  New  York,  January  20th,  1802. 

"DEAR  SIR— 

"  The  appearance  (we  cannot  say  truth)  of  neglect 
in  you,  upon,  what  ought  to  be  your  duty — to  write 
often,  is  more  excusable  than  in  that  of  Mr.  Standly 
• — as  from  him,  business,  if  not  the  incidents  of  your 
visit  to  the  West,  would  impel  it. 

"  The  last,  and  the  only  letter,  for  aught  we  know, 
was  dated  3d  inst.,  from  a  house  among  the  mountains, 
at  which  you  had  arrived  a  day  or  two  before,  and 
where  you  spoke  of  remaining  until  spring. 

"  A  letter  from  Mr.  Standly,  a  few  days  subsequent, 
confirmed  that,  and  since  which  we  have  heard  from 


388  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

neither  one  or  the  other  of  you  three,  although 
writing  weekly,  as  we  have  done,  and  directing  to  the 
post-office  of ,  to  the  care  of  a  Mr.  Melvin. 

"The  present,  however,  is  no  time  to  conclude 
upon  your  faults,  nor  to  lecture  you  (if  so)  for  their 
commission,  but  to  speak  of  business,  and  of  the  im- 
perative necessity  of  your  immediate  attention  to  it. 

"  The  house  of  Enslow  &  Berker  here,  has  over- 
reached itself,  and  has  failed  for  a  very  large  amount. 
In  their  wreck,  they  have  made  an  assignment,  and  it 
has  so  happened  that  among  others  to  whom  we  have 
been  friendly,  and  for  whom  '  the  milk  of  human 
kindness'  has  run  too  freely  in  the  assistance  of  from 
us,  by  them  we  are  likely  to  be  sufferers. 

"  The  acceptance  of  the  enclosed  drafts,  upon  notes 
negotiable  and  payable  in  Richmond,  Ya.,  by  the 
firm  of  Long  &  Buford,  due  the  house  of  Enslow  & 
Berker,  in  an  amount  of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  is 
what  we  call  your  direct  attention  to. 

"  You  are  well  aware  of  our  kindness  and  gene- 
rosity to  Messrs.  Long  &  Buford,  and  will  doubtless 
endorse  "'bur  opinions  of  their  reciprocity,  and  prompt 
as  satisfactory  arrangement  of  the  affair  before  you 
for  our  benefit.  See  these  gentlemen,  and  make  such 
arrangements  with  them  as,  in  your  judgments,  may 
be  most  conducive  to  securing  of  the  debt,  indepen- 
dent of  their  own  account  current  with  us 

In  haste,  your  affectionate  fathers, 

"  JAMES  LAUREXCE, 
"  SAMUEL  HYJSTE." 

"  To  Messrs  G.  L.  Laurence  and  Samuel  L.  Hyne." 

"  Here,"  said  Laurence,   after  he  and  Hyne  had 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  389 

given  the  letter  of  their  fathers'  a  second  reading,  -and 
as  he  handed  it  also  open  to  Clermont  for  perusal,  "is 
another  striking  instance  of  the  mutability  of  human  life. 

"  A  few  days  since,"  he  continued,  "  we  were  denied 
by  those  ingrates  the  rights  of  reciprocal  friendship. 
What  now,  I  wonder,  will  be  their  plea  against  the 
authority  in  us  vested — of  measure  for  measure." 

The  conversation  soon  became  general  between  the 
prisoners  and  their  Kev.  friend,  relative  to  the  disclo- 
sures, with  which  he  had  now  become  familiar,  while 
the  stranger  occasionally  spoken  to,  made  judicious  as 
well  adapted  remarks  upon  plans  then  being  devised 
with  intent  of  purpose.  In  a  little  time,  the  letter  to 
Long  &  Buford  was  spoken  of,  and  after  reviewing 
this  letter  as  far  as  written,  a  postscript  was  agreed 
upon,  when  the  following  one  was  added : — • 

"P.  S. — Since  writing  the  above,  we  have  been 
honored  by  the  receipt  of  a  letter  from  the  firm  of 
Laurence  &  Hyne,  in  the  language  and  over  the 
signatures'  of  our  revered  parents,  which,  perhaps,  in 
unison  with  your  wanton  as  well  as  unjust  and  illiberal 
criticisms  upon  affairs  appertaining  to  ourselves  alone, 
and  with  which  you  have  no  business  further  than 
allowed ;  you  may  be  inclined  to  discredit  the  truth 
of.  It  is  in  relation  to  a  debt  due  by  you  to  the  firm 
of  Enslow  &  Baker,  of  New  York;  the  amount  of 
which  by  assignment  is  made  payable  to  Laurence  &• 
Hyne.  The  security  of  its  payment  by  you  to  them,  is 
made  by  authority,  our  business  and  duty  to  attend  to. 

"G.  L.  L. 
"S.  L.  H." 

The  letter  to  Long  &  Buford  had  not  been  sealed 


390  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

before  the  signal,  as  heretofore  mentioned  at  the  door 
of  the  prison  for  entry,  was  heard,  when  in  the  next 
moment  the  jailor  entered,  accompanied  by  one,  to 
him,  and  to  all  present,  a  stranger,  except  the  Maniac. 

The  keeper  of  the  prison  had  not  forgotten  the  im- 
pressive remarks  of  Laurence  to  him  on  the  subject 
of  politeness,  and  as  soon  as  he  had  ushered  the  stran- 
ger to  the  presence  of  the  prisoners,  politely  bowing, 
retired,  and  locking  the  door,  left  Laurence  and  Hyne 
to  an  uninterrupted  interview  with  the  (as  yet  to 
them)  unknown. 

"  For  the  unceremonious  appearance  before  you  of 
a  stranger,  as  I  am,  there  is  no  other  apology  within 
my  reach  to  offer  you,  gentlemen,  but  that  arising  out 
of  feelings  of  indignity  upon  persecution,  and  the  de- 
sire entertained  of  lending  my  aid  to  the  unfortunate 
in  distress  prompts  me  to.  Myself  a  traveller,"  con- 
tinued the  gentleman,  "  yesterday  night  overtook  me 
at  this  village,  and  stopping  at  the  '  Eagle  Hotel,'  I 
learned  from  casual  remarks  the  excitement  your  ar- 
rest and  imprisonment  have  created  here.  Among 
other  matters  gleaned  from  the  talk  of  those  around 
me,  (for  amongst  them  I  was  a  silent  listener)  was  a 
knowledge  of  that  man's  (pointing  to  the  Maniac)  liv- 
ing here ;  and  want  of  discretion  and  prudence,  with 
which  those  who  were  present  spoke  of  his  misfor- 
tunes, and  the  representation  of  the  degrees  of  High 
Heaven  passed  upon  man !  I  know  this  man,"  con- 
tinued the  gentleman,  "  and  have  also  a  limited,  yet 
so  far  as  it  is  so,  very  commendatory  knowledge  of 
what  and  who  Messrs.  Laurence  and  Hyne  are." 

"  The  practice  of  the  things  you  speak  of,  sir,"  said 
Clermont,  "is  proverbial  with  the  weak-minded  only, 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTHERINGAY.  391 

who  by  the  sensible  are  more  objects  of  pity  than  that 
of  scorn." 

There  is  a  something  in  the  expression  of  sincerity, 
especially  when  accompanied  by  an  air  of  benevo- 
lence, that  begets  confidence,  and  admits  to  it  in 
others,  those  who  are  so.  In  a  little  time  an  exchange 
of  remarks  and  comment  were  being  passed  between 
the  four  sane,  and  the  one  insane,  gentlemen  of  the 
prison. 

To  a  question  put  to  him  by  Laurence,  the  gentle- 
man replied.  "  I  respectfully  claim  the  right,  for  rea- 
sons which  may  hereafter  be  explained,  to  refuse 
giving  my  name ;  and  in  doing  so,  wish  not  to  be  un- 
derstood as  being  any  less  ready  or  willing  to  perform 
you  a  service  than  I  would  be  were  you  to  know  at 
present  who  I  am  and  from  whence  I  have  come. 
From  what  you  have  spoken  since  my  appearance 
within  these  walls,  you  seem  to  be  in  want  of  counsel, 
and  from  the  manner  in  which  you  have  been  treated 
here,  would  suppose  you  much  at  a  loss  for  legal  as- 
sistance in  the  prosecution  of  the  claim  of  your  and 
the  father  of  Mr.  Hyne  against  Long  &  Buford. 
»  "  You  are  not  aware  of  it,  and  here  let  me  inform 
you,"  continued  the  gentleman,  "  that  I  profess  to  bo 
an  attorney  at  law,  and  that  any  assistance  I  can  give 
to  either  or  both  of  you,  is  at  your  command." 

Thus  assured  by  the  gentleman,  an  immediate 
declaration  of  acknowledged  favor  was  tendered  him 
by  the  prisoners,  and  in  a  little  time  the  notes  and 
drafts  upon,  and  letter  to,  Long  &  Buford,  were  being 
placed  in  the  hands  of  Clermqnt,  with  an  understand- 
ing on  the  part  of  the  stranger,  to  go  with  and  be 


392  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

present,  but  not  to  be  introduced  to  them,  at  the  inter- 
view of  Clermont  with  the  merchants. 

That  arrangement  had  scarcely  been  entered  into 
before  the  re-entry  of  the  Jailor  accompanied  by  Mer- 
cer and  the  sheriff.  The  latter  informed  the  prisoners 
that  he  could  give  them  but  three  more  days,  from 
the  then  present  one,  to  arrange  whatever  of  prospects 
they  might  be  in  possession  of  relative  to  their  release 
from  prison  by  bail,  otherwise  that  he  should  be  com- 
pelled to  take  them,  as  ordered,  to  the  prison  of  the 
county  in  which  the  offence  had  been  committed. 

"We  have  now  no  prospect  of  procuring  bail,  sir," 
replied  Hyne,  "but  some  other  business  to  arrange 
which  we  hope  by  the  time  you  have  just  fixed  upon, 
to  have  had  accomplished,  when  we  will  be  ready  to 
obey  you." 

When  Hyne  had  answered  the  sheriff's  respectful 
remark,  our  landlord  of  the  "  Eagle  Hotel,"  said,  "  It 
is  now  my  time  to  speak.  I  have  come  to  know," 
said  he  to  Hyne,  "  how  I  am  to  get  the  amount  -of  my 
bill?  Whether  to  swear  out  a  writ  of  attachment 
against  you  as  criminals,  and  levy  upon-  your  horses 
and  baggage,  or  if  you  will  give  me  a  proof  of  you* 
intention  to  settle  my  claim  without  that  trouble." 

"Why  in  such  an  ill  humor,  Mr.  Mercer?"  cooly 
replied  Hyne. 

"It  is  enough  to  put  any  one  in  a  passion,  sir,"  re- 
plied Mercer,  "when  such  men  as  you  are  come 
amongst  honest  people,  such  as  I  am,  and  everybody 
else  is  here ;  and  then  for  you  to  put  up  at  the  Eagle, 
and  disgrace  my  house  by  being  taken  from  it  under 
arrest,  for  committing  of  a  crime  that  no  honest  man 
would  think  of,  will  take  me  and  my  family  a  long 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY. 

time  to  outlive  the  remembrance  of  in  the  minds  of 
our  neighbors.  Besides,  sir,"  continued  the  would- 
be-non-such,  landlord,  "  you  ordered  me  out  of  this 
room  when  I  came  here  the  other  day  with,  to  know 
what  that  madman  would  have  to  say." 

"Ah  1  well  then,  it  is  because  we  ordered  you  out, 
as  you  say,  that  makes  you  fearful  of  losing  your  bill 
against  us,"  said  Hyne. 

"  Why,  yes,"  replied  Mercer,  "  that  is  one  reason, 
that  I  do  not  think  such  men  as  you  are,  ought  to  be 
trusted." 

"  You  are  quite  plain  in  your  reasons,"  said  Hyne, 
"  smiling  as  he  spoke  at  the  ignorant  audacity  of  the 
man.  We  may,  perhaps,  relieve  you  of  one  of  your 
troubles,  while  it  would  still  be,  if  a  like  occurrence 
was  now  passing,  as  was  the  other  day,  impossible 
to  gratify  you  in  the  other.  We  will  see  to  all  this, 
and  for  the  present,"  continued  Hyne,  addressing  the 
Jailor,  "  you  will  please  show  Mr.  Mercer  his  place  of 
exit." 

The  animal  became  furious  at  the  gentlemanly,  yet 
piercing  close  of  the  remarks  of  Hyne,  and  being 
obliged  to  walk  in  quick  time,  the  next  moment 
found  the  prisoners  and  their  respected  guests  again 
alone. 

The  stranger  kindly  took  it  upon  himself  to  see 
that  this  Maniac  should  be  protected  against  insult ; 
that  he  should  not  be  made  a  source  of  amusement 
and  ridicule  by  others,  and  that  he  should  be  ren- 
dered comfortable  as  well  taken  care  of.  After  which 
arrangement,  the  Jailor  was  again  knocked  for,  and 
our  prisoners  left  to  themselves. 

Aided  by  one,  of  whom  he  knew  nothing,  save  that 


394  THE    HEIEESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY. 

requisite  to  passport,  which,  above  all  others,  require 
less  surety  for — a  gentleman,  Clermont,  in  company 
of  the  stranger,  was  at  an  early  hour  the  next  day,  at 
the  counting-room  of  Long  &  Buford,  and  knowing  no 
name  by  which  to  introduce  the  stranger,  further 
than  that  to  which  he  was  entitled — gentleman — it 
was  performed  by  the  divine  with  that  etiquette  be- 
coming one.  In  return  for  which,  he  was  received 
with  but  little  above  the  most  ordinary  of  civilities, 
and  if  a  distinction  can  be  described  between  the 
two — the  stranger  less  so. 

On  presenting  the  letter  to  Long,  he  said  to  Cler- 
mont, "  If  this  document,  sir,  is  from  the  same  source 
as  the  one  you  handed  us  yesterday  was,  you  have 
spent  your  time  idly,  and  your  friendship  to  a  bad 
purpose,  while,  on  our  parts,  it  will  be  returned  to 
you  unopened." 

"It  is  from  the  source  you  speak  of,  and  this  gen- 
tleman having  something  to  do  with  part  of  its  con- 
tents, I  would  advise  you  to  open  and  read  it,"  replied 
Clermont. 

With  a  sort  of  shallow  brained  dignity,  resembling 
that  of  the  peacock  on  raising  its  tail,  "  All  are  not 
gentlemen  who  have  the  appearance  of  such,"  said 
Long. 

"True,"  replied  Clermont,  "  or  otherwise  we  would 
not  be  bothered  on  this  occasion  with  the  mere  dress 
of  one.  But,"  continued  the  clergyman,  "  this  is  an 
unnecessary  consumption  of  time,  and  I  must  be 
plain.  Will  you  read  this  letter  ?" 

"  No,"  replied  Long. 

"The  word  'no,'"  said  the  stranger  with  an  easy 
and  graceful  air,  yet  determinedly  settled  counten- 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY.  395 

ance,  "  is  often  repented  the  use  as  well  as  consequen- 
ces of,  and  the  negative  of  the  opinion  just  now  ex- 
pressed by  you,  that  I  may  not  be  a  gentleman,  you 
may  place  in  the  affirmative  before  that  part  of  the 
business  with  which  I  am  connected  in  that  letter  is 
done  with  between  you,  Mr.  Buford  and  me." 

Here  the  stranger,  taking  the  letter  from  the  hand 
of  Clermont,  said  to  him :  "Come,  sir,  the  present 
meeting  is  dissolved,  let  us  return  to  my  room." 
Then  turning  to  Long,  and  at  the  same  time  laying 
the  letter  upon  his  table,  he  said :  "  Kead  that  without 
delay,  and  when  you  will  have  done  so,  come  to  No. 
15,  at  the  Eagle  Hotel,  where  I  shall  be  and  expect 
you  at  eleven  .  o'clock  to-day."  Thus  saying,  the 
stranger  and  Clermont  withdrew,  leaving  the  mer- 
chants to  reflect  and  decide  upon  what  course  they 
would  take,  in  an  occurrence  so  unusual,  to  those  who 
had  fancied  themselves  as  giving  tone  to  the  more 
intelligent,  better  hearts,  yet  lighter  purse  of  the  com- 
munity of  the  village  and  its-vicinity. 

"That  man  seems  authoritative,"  said  Long,  as  the 
stranger  and  Clermont  left  the  store  door. 

"  It  may  be  better,"  replied  Buford,  "  for  you  to 
change  your  mind  and  to  read  wTiat  those  imprisoned 
lovers  may  have  written  to  us  now.  And,"  continued 
Buford,  "with  regard  to  their  ministerial  upstart,  we 
can  notice  or  not  notice  him,  as  we  may  determine 
upon  what  he  has  said  may  require." 

"  It  is  better  to  humor  than  to  be  played  with  by 
fools,"  returned  Long,  as  he  was  in  the  act  of  breaking 
the  seal  of  the  letter,  that  in  the  next  moment  he  was 
reading  aloud  to  Buford. 

After  the  letter  of  the  "criminals"  had  passed  a 


896  THE   HEIEESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY. 

second  reading,  it  was  laid  open  upon  the  table  before 
them,  and  each  one  of  the  merchants,  with  the  thumb 
of  the  right  hand  pressed  against  the  temple,  the  first 
and  second  finger  supporting  the  forehead,  the  elbow 
on  the  table,  and  arm  erect,  remained  for  some  time 
silent,  with  their  eyes  intently  fixed  upon  the  harm- 
less paper,  but  earnest  of  the  sentiments  written  upon 
it. 

An  intervention  of  profound  silence  for  some 
minutes  ensued,  when  Long,  rising  from  his  chair  and 
traversing  the  room,  said,  "  "We  are  ruined !  Why 
have  we  been  so  presumptive  and  ungrateful,  as  to 
deny  the  assistance  asked  for,  to  the  sons  of  our  bene- 
factors ?  Had  we  not  have  done  so,  it  would  have 
operated  as  a  respite  against  this  unforeseen  as  unex- 
pected blight  to  future  success.  We  are  out  of  the 
reach  of  favor,"  continued  Long,  "  because  that  already 
bestowed  upon  us,  has  been  basely  abused  and  shame- 
fully remembered." 

At  the  close  of  the  relenting  and  self-reproof  re- 
marks of  Long,  Mercer  entered  the  counting-room. 

With  all  that  action  as  expression  -so  often  seen  in 
those  who  ape  the  manners  and  customs  of  others, 
and  who,  like  automatons,  move  only  as  they  are 
moved,  our  host  of  the  Eagle  Hotel,  said,  "I  have  just 
heard  of  it,  and  like  the  way  you  answered  and  treated 
our  imprisoned  lovers,  in  their  application  to  you  to 
go  their  security  in  bail.  Now  don't  you  think  it 
would  be  better  for  me  to  attach  their  horses  for  the 
payment  of  my  bill  ?  If  I  don't,"  continued  the  vapor- 
souled  animal,  "  it  will  never  be  paid,  for  they  are  poor 
and  can  do  nothing" 

"Your  troubles  concerning  the  prisoners  are  small 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  397 

compared  with  those  of  ours,  commensurate  with  their 
appearance  here.  Go  home,"  continued  Long,  "  and 
when  you  see,  treat  them,  and  all  about  them,  with 
marked  politeness  and  attention.  Fail  not!  as  you 
respect  me  and  what  I  say ;  for  they,"  continued  he, 
"  have  it  in  their  power  to  make  us,  and  many  here, 
live  at  the  sign  of  the  '  Case  is  altered.'  " 

The  merchants  being  changed  in  their  sentiments 
toward  the  prisoners,  from,  their  fear  of  approaching 
events,  so  was  Mercer — "  like  master,  like  man" — seen 
following  in  their  wake.  For  the  former  as  criterions, 
the  latter  was,  after  the  manner  of  the  larger,  as  male 
of  the  duck  species,  seen  nodding  approval.  But  we 
must  on,  lest  the  approaching  conclusion  of  our  efforts 
to  interest,  may  or  may  not  have  been  gained  for  us  in 
our  allusions  to  and  comments  upon  humam  life,  as  it 
was  and  still  is. 

The  hour  had  arrived,  and  punctual  to  the  impera- 
tive directions  of  the  stranger,  both  of  our  merchants 
were  announced  at,  and  entered  his  apartment. 

The  manners  and  deportment  of  the  stranger  wore 
an  easy,  graceful  and  dignified  appearance,  which, 
united  to  a  suavity  dissipating  restraint,  rendered  all 
who  approached  him  free  and  unreserved. 

Our  merchants,  as  is  very  natural  to  men  of  busi- 
ness— and  especially  where  that  business  is  of  such  a 
nature  as  involves  integrity,  honor,  profit,  or  loss,  as 
was  then  theirs — were  not  long,  in  spite  of  the  stran- 
ger's general,  as  interesting,  remarks  upon  the  country, 
its  then  advantages,  facilities,  and  early  incidents  with 
which  its  history  was  connected,  before  they  brought 
to  his  notice  and  consideration  the  matters  with  which 


398  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEE1XGAY. 

they  were  directly  connected,  and  that  have  already 
appeared  before  my  readers. 

They  attempted  an  apology  for,  and  upon  the  seven- 
mile  boot  stride,  with  which  the  merchants,  it  will  be 
borne  in  mind,  had  trodden  under  foot,  as  it  were,  the 
recollection  of  favors  received,  and  from  it  the  coolness 
with  which  they  had  received  and  treated  the  applica- 
tion for  release  of  the  unfortunate  sons  of  the  mer- 
chants, their  friends  in  New  York. 

In  reply  to  all  that — the  stranger  said,  "  Those  are 
matters  of  entire  privity,  gentleman,  and  with  which 
I  have  nothing  directly  or  indirectly  to  do  ;  but  which 
ought  to  be  spoken  of  and  said  with,  and  to  those  to 
whom  they  properly  belong;  for  there,"  continued  the 
stranger,  "  if  your  apologies  be  accepted,  you  will 
have  gained  what  I  am  not  empowered  'to  deny  nor  to 
accept  of.  My  business  with  you,  is  to  receive  the 
amount  due  from  you,  or  to  secure  its  payment  to 
Laurence  &  Hyne,  from  an  assignment  made  to 
them  for  their  benefit,  by  the  house  of  Enslow  & 
Baker.  Are  you  ready  for,  and  can  you  now  satisfy 
the  demand  ?"  continued  the  attorney,  with  that  kind 
of  pleasant  look,  indicating  a  like  share  of  compassion 
as  consideration. 

"  We  are  neither  ready  for,  nor  can  we  now  satisfy 
the  demand,"  replied  Long;  "and,  sir,"  he  continued, 
"  if  not  allowed  time  to  do  so  in,  we  must  lose  our 
honorable  standing  as  merchants  here,  and  sacrifice, 
at  great  loss,  all  we  have  by  care  and  industry  ac- 
quired." 

"  "What  you  have  told  me,"  returned  the  stranger, 
"  is  bad  enough  to  think  of,  and  far  worse  to  realize. 
Attorneys-at-law,"  continued  the  stranger,  "may  have 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHE1UNGAY.  399 

and  are  justifiable  as  well  as  praiseworthy  in  enter- 
taining, as  exhibiting,  private  feelings  of  generosity 
and  kindness ;  but  in  the  exercise  of  the  reposed  con- 
fidence of  their  clients,  and  the  duties  due  them  from 

us,  we  must  attend  to  instruction,  or instructions 

and  the  profits  arising  therefrom  will  leave  us.  I 
must,  therefore,  proceed  to  the  institution  of  a  suit — 
or,  if  it  be  any  accommodation  to  you,  take  mortgage 
upon  your  lands,  tenements,  goods  and  chattels,  of 
which,  to  my  personal  knowledge,  I  am  well  aware 
you  are  in  possession,  and  to  more,"  added  the  sA- 
torney,  "than  the  amount  of  the  debt  in  question." 

The  facts,  with  which  the  attorney  was  conversant, 
he  being  a  stranger,  and  how,  as  such,  they  could 
have  become  familiar  to  him,  from  the  countenances 
of  the  merchants,  were  matters  involving  mystery,  as 
rather  astounding  and  unexpected  information  of  to 
them.  And  being  still  more  convinced  of  the  attor- 
ney's earnest  towards  them,  was  for  some  moments 
silent,  when  Long  again  addressing  the  stranger  said, 
"  There  is,  sir,  but  one  alternative  incur  present  con- 
dition left  us,  whereby  to  save  our  credit  here,  as  well 
as  that  it  may  be  now  and  for  the  future,  in  New 
York,  and  that  is  to  be  reconciled  to  and  to  give  your 
terms,  in  whatever  of  our  effects  we  are  possessed,  in 
order  to  procure  the  payment  of  the  debt  you  speak, 
and  we  acknowledge  the  justice  of.  If  this  declaration 
on  our  parts  is  acceded  to,  state  your  terms  wi$h  regard 
to  the  limited  time  allowed,  and  we  will  execute  the 
mortgage,"  continued  Long. 

"  Your  proposition,  gentlemen,"  replied  the  attor- 
ney, "  is  one  I  am  happy  to  hear  you  speak  of, 
and  one  that  with  me  and  others,  this  affair  con- 


400  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY 

cerns,  is  productive  of  two  good  consequences  re- 
dounding to  your  credit.  First,  that  it  affords  a 
striking  proof  of  the  honesty  of  your  intentions,  and  in 
the  next,  that  it  might  have  a  weight  of  influence  that 
no  other  course  might  produce  upon  the  minds  of 
those  having  immediate  control  over  the  lenity  asked 
for,  in  point  of  time  allowed  for  the  liquidation  of  the 
debt  now  hanging  over  you.  The  time  you  ask  for, 
and  its  extent,  are  matters  in  my  duty  to  my  clients, 
that  the  prisoners,  Mr.  Laurence  and  Mr.  Hyne,  have 
the  entire  option  of.  And  for  that,  and  the  other 
reasons  of  which  I  have  just  spoken,  I  would  advise 
your  personal  interview  with  them  upon,"  continued 
the  attorney. 

At  that  moment  a  rap  was  heard  at  the  door,  and 
at  the  words  "come  in,"  from  the  stranger,  Mercer 
entered  the  apartment,  and  bowing  with  that  sort  of 
complaisance  which  the*  force  of  circumstances  are 
often  seen  to  produce  in  vulgar  minds,  created  by  the 
hope  of  favor,  or  by  the  lash  of  conscience,  said  to  the 
stranger,  "  I  have  come,  sir,  to  inform  you  that  dinner 
is  ready,  and  waiting  your  convenience  ;  and  to  ask 
your  opinion  whether  or  no,  a  nice  one  that  I  have 
prepared  for  them,  would  be  accepted  of,  with  myself 
in  attendance  upon  the  gentlemen  ?" 

"  To  whom  do  you  allude  ?"  said  the  stranger. 

"  Why,  to  Mr.  Laurence  and  Mr.  Hyne,  sir ;  they 
are  clever  men,  and  I  am  mighty  sorry  for  the  bad 
treatment  they  have  met  with  here,"  continued 
Mercer. 

"  You  astonish  me,  Mr.  Mercer,"  replied  the  stran- 
ger. "It  is  not  long  since  that  I  heard  you  pronounce 
Mr.  Laurence  and  Mr.  Hyne  to  be  the  meanest  of 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTIIERINGAY.  401 

men ;  and  now  you  speak  of  them  as  being  not  only 
gentlemen,  but  as  entertaining  sorrow  at  their  misfor- 
tunes. Of  the  opinion  you  ask,"  continued  the  stran- 
ger, "  the  surest  way  of  coining  at  its  correctness  from 
me,  is  for  you  to  wait  upon  them  with  the  dinner  you 
spoke  of  having  prepared  for  them,  and  then,  in  per- 
son, you  will  know  if  it  is  or  is  not  acceptable,  and  its 
preparer  agreeable  or  on  the  contrary  to  them." 

Here  the  animal  confessed  to  the  stranger  that  he 
had  been  deceived — that  he  had  pinned,  as  it  were, 
his  opinions  to  the  coat  sleeves  of  others ;  and  like  a 
certain  reptile  of  the  serpent  order,  that  becomes  blind 
in  the  month  of  August,  he  was -too  much  given  to 
adopting  the  opinions  of  others,  of  whom  he  was 
meanly  fearful, -or  with  whom  he  was  safe  in  the  lap 
of  their  favor  to  maintain  independent  ones  of  his 
own.  Such  was  Mercer.  And  as  a  tenant  of  Long  & 
Buford,  by  whom  he  was  raised  to  what  he  was,  (pro- 
prietor of  the  "  Eagle  Hotel,")  he  aped  their  move- 
ments and  acted  at  their  nod. 

In  a  few  moments  the  stranger,  Clermont,  the 
merchants  and  the  Maniac  were  seated  at  the  dining- 
table,  where  much  of  a  display  of  neatness,  with  all 
the  variety  the  country  afforded,  was  before  them  to 
tempt  their  appetites  and  to  gratify  them,  aided  by 
spirits  and  wines  of  the  best  order  from  the  cellar 
apartments  of  the  merchants. 

On  the  occasion  Long  was  master  of  ceremonies, 
and  in  the  meanwhile,  Mercer,  excusing  himself,  ac- 
companied by  a  servant  bearing. the  dinner  spoken  of, 
was  soon  seen  at  double-quick  time  measuring  his 
steps  toward  the  jail,  with  some  two  or  three  bottles 
of  wine,  and  as  many  of  brandy  and  rum. 

SO 


402  THE   HEIKESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"  What's  out  now,"  inquired  the  Jailor,  as  Mercer 
came  into  the  room  nearly  out  of  breath,  saying,  as 
he  entered,  "Is  your  dinner  over?" 

"No,"  replied  the  Jailor,  "but  T  am  just  about 
taking  the  prisoners  their's." 

"  Then  I  have  come  in  time.  Don't  take  yours, 
but  the  dinner  I  have  prepared  and  brought  for 
them,"  said  Mercer.  "Let  me  tell  you"  (looking  at 
the  Jailor  with  much  earnestness,)  "  we  have  all  been 
deceived  in  our  opinions  about  the  prisoners — they 
are  gentlemen,  and  must  be  treated  very  well.  Open 
the  door,  quick,  and  let  me  in !"  continued  Mercer, 
as  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  his  remarks,  he 
spoke  in  rapid  succession  from  one  thing  to  another. 

"  You  are  much  changed  in  your  opinions  now,  to 
what  you  was  of  them  when  these  men  were  com- 
mitted to  my  keeping,"  replied  the  Jailor,  as  he  was 
in  the  act  of  taking  his  instrument  of  entry  from  a 
large  desk  that  stood  in  his  office. 

"  It  becomes  me  to  be  so,  and  not  only  me,  but 
those  upon  whom  I  am  dependent,"  replied  Mercer. 

•"Ah  !"  said  the  Jailor,  "  then  there  must  be  some- 
thing afloat  that  disturbs  the  minds  of  Long  &  Buford, 
for  you  know,"  continued  he,  "  that  whatever  they  do, 
you  will  run  the  risk  of  breaking  your  neck,  rather 
than  not  follow  their  example.  Is  it  not  so  ?" 

"Yes,"  returned  Mercer,  "and  you  know  another 
thing,  that  when  men  are  rising  in  the  world,  they 
almost  kiss  the  feet  of  those  from  whom  favors  are 
bestowed,  and  that  is  all  right.  The  present,"  con- 
tinued Mercer,  "is  a  case  in  which  we  have  made  a 
mistake,  and  I,  with  Messrs.  Long  &  Buford,  must 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEKINGAY.  403 

take  such  steps  in  it,  as  to  enable  us,  and  that  quickly 
too,  to  get  on  the  right  side  again." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  the  expression,  right  side 
again?"  inquired  the  Jailor. 

"  Why,"  returned  Mercer,  "  the  fathers  of  these 
gentlemen  are  wealthy,  and  have  sent  to  them,  as  I 
understand,  notes  to  a  large  amount,  to  be  collected 
of  Mr.  Long  and  Mr.  Buford,  and  we  must  now  treat 
the  young  gentlemen  well,  in  order  to  gain  their 
indulgence  in  the  matter." 

"  Ah,  Msrcer,"  replied  the  Jailor,  as  he  looked  him 
sternly  in  the  face  and  caught  his  eye  faltering  while 
he  spoke,  "  you  are  a  weather-cock.  And  there  are 
many  like  you,  too  mean  to  be  relied  upon.  It  would 
be  nothing  more  than  a  just  retribution,  of  the  atrocity 
now  in  view,  and  the  insults  you  have  heaped  upon 
them,  if  these  gentlemen  were  to  spurn  you  and  that 
which  you  offer,  not  out  of  respect,  but  a  policy 
founded  upon  base  deceit.  I  will  gratify  you,  if  it  is 
one,"  continued  the  Jailor,  "  but  from  what  I  have 
heard  from  the  prisoners,  cannot  think  you  will  be  a 
welcome  visitor  under  any  circumstances,  to  those 
you  have  spoken  of  and  threatened,  as  have  been, 
those  you  wish  to  see.  For  my  own  part,"  continued 
tho  Jailor,  "I  have  repented  of  the  folly  of  forming 
opinions  upon  the  mere  say  so  of  others ;  who  blind 
to  anything  but  envy,  think  it  wise  to  make,  whether 
right  or  wrong,  others,  proselytes  to  such  opinions." 

Upon  the  approach  of  the  Jailor  and  Mercer  to  the 
door  of  the  prison,  the  latter  said,  "  Is  there  a  table  in 
the  room  ?" 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  Jailor,  "for  I,  convinced  of  my 
errors  respecting  those  men,  have,  at  my  own  expense, 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERIXGAY. 

tried  to  render  them  more  comfortable  than  when 
they  were  put  there,  so  that  when  the  gentlemen  go 
hence,  I  hope  they  will  be  impressed  with  the  belief, 
that  every  comfort  in  reach  of  my  power  has  been 
rendered  them,  and  myself  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
peaceful  conscience."  In  the  next  moment,  the  door 
was  opened,  when  the  keeper,  Mercer  and  the  servant, 
were  in  presence  of  the  prisoners. 

Not  wanting  in  deception  and  modest  impudence, 
Mercer  spoke  of  the  feelings  of  respect  he  entertained 
for  them.  And  with  that  sort  of  deportment  ever  the 
attendant  of  meanness  detected,  begged  of  the  gentle- 
men to  partake  of  a  dinner  he  had  prepared,  and  had 
brought  to  them ;  adding,  "  That  he  hoped  a  few  bot- 
tles of  spirits  and  wine  would  also  be  acceptable  to 
them." 

During  the  eulogy  upon  his  friendship,  praise  of 
his  dinner,  and  remarks  upon  its  accompaniment,  the 
prisoners  remained  silent,  and  when  he  had  ceased 
speaking,  Hyne-said:  "The  present,  sir,  is  not  a  time 
in  which  we  can  take  your  word  as  a  test  of  sincerity. 
Your  dinner  may  be  what  you  say  it  is,  and  your 
spirits  and  wine  of  the  best  quality,  yet,  before  we  can 
partake  of  either,  (should  we  do  so  at  all,)  you  must 
first  taste  of  every  article  you.  have  brought  us." 

"  You  do  not  mean  by  that  remark,  that  my  object 
is  to  poison  you?"  replied  Mercer. 

"It  matters  not  what  my  meaning  is,  or  my  inten- 
tions are,  in  saying  what  I  have,  and  singular  as  it 
may  appear,  we  cannot  partake  of  it  at  all,  of  your 
hospitality,  before  you  do  as  I  have  asked  you,"  con- 
tinued Hyne. 

Mercer's  object  was  thwarted,  and  in  a  few  moments 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTITEKINGAY.  405 

after  he  was  seen,  accompanied  by  his  servant,  bearing 
the  dinner,  spirits  and  wine,  untouched,  on  his  way  to 
the  "Eagle  Hotel." 

The  gentlemen  of  that  day  at  the  Eagle  Hotel,  had 
just  risen  from  table,  at  which  we  had  left  them,  with 
the  intention  of  visiting  the  prisoners,  when  Mercer 
entered  his  house;  and  supposing  that  his  civilities 
had  commenced  a  favorable  impression  upon  the 
minds  of  the  prisoners,  Long,  Buford,  the  stranger, 
and  the  Maniac,  were  soon  announced  by  the  Jailor  to 
Laurence  and  Hyne. 

Upon  entering  the  prison  the  stranger  performed 
the  etiquette  of  introducing  Long  and  Buford,  though 
known  in  .New  York,  to  the  prisoners.  Whereupon 
Long,  on  the  part  of  the  former,  said:  "At  an  unex- 
pected moment  gentlemen,  we  havp  been  apprised  of 
an  event,  equally  unthought  of,  as  unlocked  for>  with 
all  of  which  you  are  intimately  conversant.  The 
arrangement  for  payment  is  already  made  with  your 
attorney,  excepting  the  time  allowed  to  do  so  in — to 
be  embraced  in  the  mortgage.  And  that,  as  we  are 
informed,  being  entirely  at  your  option,  we  have  come 
to  ask  your  indulgence  in;  at  as  long  a  time  as  may 
accord  with  your  kindness,  and  practicable  in  the 
affair.  Otherwise,"  continued  Long,  "our  respecta- 
bility and  reputation  are  ruined — our  credit  lost — and 
our  wives  and  children  rendered  beggars." 

A  profound  silence  was  observed  during  Long's 
eloquent  as  feeling  appeal  for  indulgence  and  favor, 
and  for  some  moments  after  its  conclusion,  our  pris- 
oners sat,  as  if  they  were  not  animate  but  sculptured 
appearances  of  human  form. 

"By  what  right,  gentlemen,"  said  Laurence  to  Long 


406  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY. 

and  Bufort,  "  do  you  ask  indulgence  and  favor,  in  a 
matter  not  ours,  but  in  which,  by  direction  of  our 
fathers,  we  are  agents  only,  and  as  such  feel  it  an  im- 
perative duty  to  comply  with  their  orders." 

"  We  ask  it,  sir,"  replied  Long,  "  upon  principles  of 
long  standing  friendship,  and  the  known  integrity  of 
our  house  to  meet  the  demands  against  it." 

"The  last  part  of  your  remarks  are  well  enough,  and 
highly  honorable ;  but  the  first,  friendship  (emphasising 
the  word)  is  little  known,  and  still  less  practiced  by 
either  one  or  the  other  of  you.  Else,  why  have  we 
been  so  long  confined  within  these  walls  ?"  returned 
Laurence. 

The  direct  allusion  to  their  imprisonment,  and 
shameful  deportment  with  which  the  prisoners  had 
met  from  them,  created  in  the  minds  of  the  merchants, 
that  sort  of  acknowledged  conscience  lashed  for  dicta- 
ting to  others,  what  they  were  not  in  the  practice  of 
themselves.  And  which  invariably  ensues,  when  truth, 
like  a  two-edged  sword,  developes  the  "inhumanity 
of  man." 

"  "Were  we,  Mr  Long,"  continued  Laurence,  "  to  lend 
as  deaf  an  ear  to  your  request,  as  you  and  Mr.  Buford 
have  done  to  ours ;  what,  I  ask,  would  you  think  of 
such  as  act  ?" 

The  animal  was  silent,  and  appearing  as  a  con- 
demned culprit,  averted  his  eye,  that  those  of  him  who 
was  speaking  should  not  meet  it,  to  see  what  the  talis- 
man of  his  heart  was  silently,  though  impressively, 
proclaiming. 

"You  remind  me,  Mr.  Long,"  continued  Laurence, 
"of  the  nature  of  one  of  the  feathered  tribe — the 
Turkey — which,  becoming  caught,  goe?  step  by  step 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTHERINGAY.  407 

picking  the  grains  of  corn  strewed  in  its  way,  till  within 
the  trap,  it  becomes  forgetful  of  how  it  got  there,  is 
too  vain  to  reflect,  and  too  selfish  to  look  from  whence  it 
come.  Of  such,  sir,"  continued  Laurence,  "is  man! 
Humble  in  indigence;  but  when  wealthy,  is  forgetful 
of  those  by  whom  aided  !" 

Here  Long  attempted  an  apology  for  his  and  Buford's 
course  toward  the  prisoners,  when  Laurence,  with  that 
politeness  bespeaking  the  gentleman,  and  pleasant 
smile  upon  his  countenance,  stopped  him,  and  then 
said: 

"  We  ask  no  apology  on  this  occasion  from  you, 
and  if,"  he  continued,  "  the  sense  of  injustice  and 
illiberality  you  have  shown  us,  is  so  impressive  as  to 
have  convinced  you  of  your  error,  let  its  conviction 
prompt  you  to  do  so  no  more.  And  also  to  reflect 
well,  and  thoroughly  understand  the  conditions  of, 
before  you  decide  against  the  unfortunate." 

Here  the  merchants  rose  to  take  their  departure 
from  the  prison,  when  Laurence  requested  them  to 
remain  a  moment  in  their  presence,  addressing  the 
attorney,  said, 

"  You  will  please,  in  the  mortgage  of  those  gentle- 
men given  to  Laurence  &  Hyne  of  New  York,  allow 
any  time  for  the  payment  of  the  debt,  that  you,  Mr. 
Long  and  Mr.  Buford  may  conclude  upon." 

The  day  following  their  interview  with  the  prisoners, 
our  merchants  executed  the  mortgage  spoken  of.  The 
bill  of  Mercer,  including  those  of  the  stranger  and  the 
Maniac,  was  paid  by  Laurence  &  Hyne. 

A  handsome  fee  to  the  attorney,  and  complimentary 
donation  to  Clermont  was  accepted  of.  A  like  mark 
of  esteem  was  handed  to  the  Jailor  for  his  politeness 


408  THE   HEIRESSES    OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

to  and  attention  upon  them,  and  on  $ie  morning  fol- 
lowing, our  prisoners,  under  charge  of  the  sheriff, 
assisted  by  three  others  as  a  guard,  set  out  for  the 
jail  of  the  county  in  which  the  offence  with  which 
they  were  charged  had  been  committed.  The  sheriff 
and  one  of  his  men  having  on  their  horses  the  holsters 
and  pistols  of  Laurence  and  Hyne. 

Things  thus  arranged,  our  prisoners  at  their  request 
attended  by  their  empowered  escort,  left  the  village  at 
an  early  hour  for  the  purpose  of  escaping  that  annoy- 
ance from  idle  curiosity,  that  so  much  as  improperly 
feeds  the  mental  appetite  of  many. 

The  friends  of  the  prisoners,  Clermont,  the  Attor- 
ney, and  the  Maniac,  were  cordially  bidden  adieu  to, 
and  on  arriving  at  the  foot  of  ths  mountains,  the  party 
commenced  a  route  designated  by  marks  upon  trees, 
as  the  only  one  leading  to  their  place  of  destination. 


CIIAPTEK    XLII. 

Benevolence  is  the  stepping-stone  to  the  inheritance  of  Heaven  !  Faith, 
Hope  and  Charity  are  its  means  of  entrance — and  their  reverse — Con- 
demnation ! 

THE  route  of  Mr.  Sheriff  and  his  party,  necessarily 
led  to  a  crossing  at  several  places,  the  placid  as  beau- 
tiful, though  when  flushed,  rapid  stream  of  Roanoke 
river,  which  from  the  melting  of  the  snow  in  the 
mountains,  had  began  a  dispute  with  its  banks,  and 
threatening  with  danger  the  traveller  venturing  its 
fords. 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERIXGAY.  409 

The  departure  of  the  prisoners  from  the  village, 
had  now  put  an  end  to  much  of  that  sort  of  tea-table  talk 
among  the  ladies  as  that  also  of  the  bar  and  counting- 
room,  discussion  among  gentlemen  usual  on  love  or 
any  other  affairs,  that  rouse  to  curiosity,. interest  or 
speculation,  the  otherwise  dormant  intellect  of  the 
people  of  small  towns;  and  it  may  not  perhaps  be  im- 
proper, here  to  add,  large  cities. 

Still  a  smattering  of  what  we  have  just  spoken  of 
was  yet  lingering  in  the  mind's-eye  of  that  people. 
For  the  stay  of  the  stranger  and  the  Maniac,  and  that 
too  at  the  "  Eagle  Hotel,"  kept  curiosity  afloat,  and 
gave  to  the  minds  of  stick- whittlers  at  every  corner 
of  the  streets  of  the  village,  a  sufficiency -to  go  upon, 
and  occupy  their  minds  with. 

On  the  day  following  the  departure  of  the  prisoners 
and  after  Clermont,  by  invitation  had  dined  with  the 
Attorney,  and  his  unfortunate  friend  the  Maniac,  the 
former  of  the  two  latter  spoke  of  taking  a  ride,  and 
requested  the  Clergyman  to  attend  to  him.  "  I  feel 
grateful,  sir,"  said  Clermont,  "  for  your  kind  invita- 
tion, but  am  under  the  necessity  of  declining  its  ac- 
ceptance," as  with  serenity  of  countenance  betokening 
all  right  within  his  eyes  rested  upon  the  stranger. 

"  Why  so,  sir,"  quickly  replied  the  latter. 

"  For  the  best  of  reasons,  I  have  no  horse,  nor 
means  to  spare  from  wants,  to  hire  one ;"  replied 
Clermont. 

"If  they  are  the  only  ones,  the  causes  shall  be 
quickly  obviated,"  returned  the  stranger. 

Here  the  Attorney  addressing  Mercer,  who  had 
profitted  by  the  lectures  recently  given  him,  and  who 
was  now  rather  annoying  than  otherwise  in  his  polite- 


410  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

ness  and  attentions,  said,  u  You  will  please  have  mine 
and  my  room-mates'  horses  bridled  and  saddled  for 
me."  In  a  few  moments  after,  the  Attorney  and 
Clermout  were  on  horseback  and  away. 

It  was  that  hour,  when  the  sun,  in  his  resplendent 
orb  was  bidding  an  adieu  to  the  calm  of  the  surround- 
ing scenery  which  proclaims  with  silent  reverence, 
the  Majesty  of  the  Great  I  Am ! — for  the  purpose  of 
lighting  other  worlds,  that  the  Attorney  and  Clermont 
were  returning  to  the  village. 

On  entering  the  main  road  leading  to  it,  one  of  two 
gentlemen  travellers  accosting  them,  inquiring,  "  How 
far  it  was  to  the  next  town?"  being  answered,  the 
gentleman  continued : — "  We  are  strangers,  and  will 
feel  much  obliged,  if  you  direct  us  to  the  best  public- 
house." 

That  was  promised,  and  in  the  course  of  their  ap- 
proach to  the  town,  occasional  inquiries  were  made 
by  them,  and  among  others,  "if  Clermont,  or  the 
Attorney  knew  the  mercantile  house  of,  or  were  ac- 
quainted with  the  firm  of  Long  &  Buford." 

Being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  the  speaker  con- 
tinued : — 

"  We  have  business  with  that  house,  and  you  will 
confer  another  favor,  gentlemen,  if  informed  of,  to 
whom  we  can  apply  as  a  business  attorney  ?" 

"  You  are  speaking  to  one,  who  upon  trial,  I  hope, 
you  would  find  of  that  class,"  returned  our  Attorney. 

By  that  time  the  party  had  arrived  at  the  Eagle, 
and  dismounting,  Clermont  bidding  the  Attorney  and 
the  travellers  "adieu,"  went  home;  when,  in  the  next 
moment,  the  remaining  three  were  in  the  sitting- 
parlor  of  the  hotel. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  411 

Ere  the  travellers  had  time  to  say,  "Landlord,  we 
wish  to  have  a  room,"  the  eyes  of  several  were  fixed 
upon  them,  and  even  the  inquisitive  looks  of  him  who, 
above  all  others,  ought  not  to  have  been  so,  were 
mingled  in  that,  to  many,  delicious  beverage,  too  pre- 
valent, of  prying  into  the  affairs  of  others  and  leaving 
those  of  their  own  go  unattended  to. 

In  a  short  time,  the  adjoining  apartment  to  that 
occupied  by  the  attorney  and  the  Maniac,  and  which 
opened  into  it  by  an  interior  door-way,  was  prepared 
for  and  "walked  into  by  the  travellers. 

After  tea,  and  on  their  return  to  their  apartment,  the 
travellers  discovered  the  attorney  and  his  Maniac 
acquaintance  walking  in  a  like  direction  to  that  of 
theirs,  and  halting  and  unlocking  the  next  door. 

"  I  perceive  we  are  your  neighbors,"  said  one  of  the 
travellers  to  the  attorney. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  latter,  "  and  the  interior  of 
the  room  makes  us  more  so,  by  a  door  opening  from 
yours  into  ours." 

"  We  feel  glad  of  that,"  replied  the  traveller,  as  he 
continued :  "  Thinking  yourself  positively  engaged  by 
us  in  the  business  that  brought  us  to  this  country,  you 
will  be  quite  convenient,  and  to  whom  we  can  have 
access  without  being  subjected  to  the  gaze  and  com- 
ment of  the  curious." 

"  You  honor  me,  sir,"  was  the  reply,  as  the  four 
entered  their  respective  rooms. 

In  a  little  time,  a  rap  was  heard  at  the  inner  door 
of  the  travellers'  room,  and  the  words,  "come  in,"  being 
spoken  by  the  attorney,  the  door  was  unlocked,  when 
the  travellers  entered  his  apartment. 


412  TUB   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY. 

After  they  became  seated,  one  of  the  travellers 
said : 

"  Business  of  some  import  to  us,  part  of  which  lies 
at  this  place,  has  brought  us  to  this  now  '  far  West.' 
And,  as  business  men,  having  but  little  time  allowed 
for  delay,  we-wish  to  perform  it,  and  be  off  again  to 
other  parts  of  your 'country." 

Here  their  business  was  made  known  to  the 
attorney,  and  soon  sociably  spoken  of  and  upon  by 
the  party  present.  Then  and  there,  for  the  first 
intimation  of  it,  the  recent  affairs  that  had  taken 
place  in  the  village,  and  which,  thus  far,  is  all 
familiar  to  the  minds  of  my  readers,  was  made  known 
to  the  travellers,  At  its  intelligence  they  sat  for 
some  moments  absorbed  in  thought,  till,  at  length, 
one  of  them,  accompanied  by  a  heavy  sigh,  as  he 
gave  utterance  to  it,  said  : 

"And  has  it  come  to  this?  We,  sir,"  continued 
the  traveller,  "are  they  from  whom  the  young  men 
you  speak  of  have  derived  their  exisitence.  I," 
continued  the  traveller,  "  am  the  father  of  Samuel  L. 
Hyne,  and  that  gentleman  (pointing  to  the  other)  is 
the  father  of  George  L.  Laurence,  the  prisoners, 
of  whose,  ill  fortune  you  have  given  us  the  intelli- 
gence." 

Surprise,  from  a  two-fold  source,  was  the  first 
ingredient  for  the  action  of  his  mind  with  the  attor- 
ney, when  the  Maniac,  whose  few  and  far  between 
remarks  in  rationality,  speaking,  said : 

"  Addition,  substraction,  multiplication  and  divi- 
sion, are  the  rules  by  which  arithmetical  problems 
are  solved.  And  in  many  of  the  affairs  of  life,  all  are 
badly  as  ungenerously  used." 


THE   HEIRES3E3   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  413 

"  Tliis  man  has  said  wisely,"  continued  Hyne ; 
"  for  in  the  first  two  rules  mentioned,  man  in  his 
hours  of  ease,  adds  self-consequence,  and  often  in 
such  assumption,  subtracts  from  others  the  credit 
due ;  while,  in  doing  so,  he  multiplies  distrust,  and 
divides  a  shameful  as  corrupt  spoil.  Our  sons  have 
been  the  victims  of  scorn  and  neglect  from  others 
who  should  have  been  the  first  to  offer  them  aid  ; 
but  we  will  see  to  it,  and  let  those  upon  whom 
favors  have  been  bestowed,  and  badly  reciprocated, 
know  how  they  are  weighed  by  us,"  continued  Mr. 
Hyne. 

From  the  moment  the  travellers  had  accosted  the 
attorney  and  Clermont  in  their  return  ride  to  the 
village,  one  of  the  former  was  eyed  with  all  that 
mental  scrutiny,  upon  reminiscences  of  long-gone-by 
years,  that  length  of  time  makes  it  occasionally 
difficult  in  arriving  at  positive  conclusions  upon. 
And  not  daring  to  venture  an  effort  to  bring  himself 
there  to  the  recollections  of  the  gentleman,  the 
attorney  remained  in  suspense  upon  it  till  the 
travellers  entered  his  room,  and  the  name  of  Lau- 
rence was  announced. 

"In  the  revolutions  of  Time's  wheel  there  are 
events  falling  from  its  receptacles,  strange  as  aston- 
ishing, and  which  stagger  credibility.  But  I  cannot 
now  be  mistaken,"  said  the  attorney,  as  with  a  look 
of  pleasant  certainty  he  fixed  his  eyes  upon  Laurence. 
"Do  you  remember,  sir,"  he  continued,  "a  small 
detachment  of  young  men  stationed  near  a  small 
village  in  the  South,  and  at  the  residence  of  a  wealthy 
partisan  of  the  Revolution  in  the  struggle  of  our 
country  for  her  liberty  ?" 


414  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

Here  a  reaction  of  long  dormant  recollections  of 
events  alluded  to,  instantly  rushed  torrent -like  to  the 
mind  of  Laurence,  when,  in  the  next  moment,  seizing 
the  hand  of  the  attorney,  he  exclaimed,  "  Edmund 
Miller  !  is  this  you  ?" 

•'Yes,"  returned  Miller;  "it  is — but  only  in  part 
of  what  I  was  then ;  for  Time  having  made  indelible 
traces  in  my  person  and  appearance,  you  behold  me 
much  changed,  yet  in  intellect  sufficiently  identifying 
to  recognise  my  Kevolutionary  companion  and  old 
friend." 

In  the  next  moment  an  introduction  to  Mr.  Hyne ' 
was  being  given  by  Laurence,  and   then  addressing 
Miller,  he  said  to  him,  "  Who  is  this  stranger  you 
have  with  you?" 

"  One,"  returned  Miller,  "  who  is  equally  your 
friend,  as  he  is  that  of  your  son.  And  in  like  man- 
ner," continued  Miller,  "  is  the  undeviating  one  of 
Mr.  Hyne  and  his." 

Here  the  merchants  were  introduced  to  the  Maniac 
by  Miller,  saying,  "  Allow  me  the  pleasure  of  making 
you  acquainted  with  Mr.  Close,  who,  for  purposes,  of 
which  you  will  hereafter  be  apprized,  has  assumed 
that  of  the  character  of  a  deranged  intellect,  and  as  a 
Maniac  has  yet  much  to  perform  in  the  affairs  with 
which  your  sons  are  still  surrounded." 

After  some  time  of  profound  silence  in  all  present, 
Laurence,  raising  his  head  from  an  inclined  position, 
his  hand  and  elbow  resting  upon  the  back  of  his  chair, 
said,  "  How  strange  and  unaccounted  for,  Edmund, 
are  many  of  the  incidents  of  life.  In  the  day  spring 
of  youth,  neither  of  us  thought  an  occurrence  like 
that  of  the  present  one  would  ever  take  place.  Here, 


THE    HEIRESSES   Oi'1   FOTHERINGAY.  415 

after  years  of  separation,  we  have  again  met,  and  ia 
that  meeting,  I  behold  the  friend  of  my  youth,  watch- 
ing over  and  faithfully  attending  to  the  defence  of  my 
son,  in  the  wrongs  and  indignities  perpetrated  against 
him.  I  cannot  but  believe,"  continued  Laurence, 
"  from  what  you  have  told  me,  that  that  jet-black 
hearted  creature,  Standly,  is  at  the  touch-spring  of  all 
this,  since  what  you  say,  strongly  corroborates  with 
that  of  his  deportment,  and  of  which  we  have  acci- 
dentally been  apprized  at,  and  from  other  sources. 
He  has  not  only  said  that  Mr.  Hyne  and  myself  had 
disowned  and  discarded  our  sons,  but  to  effect  a  more 
diabolical  purpose,  has  reported  us  dead,  and  he  in 
direct  possession  of  everything  we  own.  This,"  con- 
tinued Laurence,  "he  has  done  for  the  purpose  of 
effecting  a  change  of  sentiment,  at  that  time,  (I  know 
not  whether  now,)  in  favor  of  our  sons  with  Miss 
Antoinette  Leftridge  and  Miss  Leontine  Withrow. 
Should  he  be  successful,  two  nephews  of  Standly  are 
the  designed  husbands  of  those  young  ladies,  and  the 
young  men  to  reap  the  benefit  of  their  uncle's  plot — 
and  that,  too,  before  anything  contradictory  of  his 
falsehood  can  be  known  at  Fotheringay,  to  which 
place  they  are  on  their  route  by  way  of  Richmond. 
We,"  continued  Laurence,  "  left  New  York,  without 
our  object  and  destiny  being  known,  but  to  few,  and 
coming  direct,  are  now  not,  I  fear,  very  far  in  advance 
of  them.  Our  object  is  to  get  off  from  here  as  soon  as 
we  shall  have  seen  and  made  with  Long  &  Buford,  a 
final  settlement  of  all  our  business  matters  with  them, 
and  then,  as  we  are  utter  strangers  to  the  routes  through 
those  mountains,  to  procure  an  efficient  guide  to  con- 


416  THE    HEIRE.JSE3   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY. 

duct  us  through  them,  with  as  little  delay  as  possible, 
to  Fotheringay." 

"Be  not  alarmed,"  replied  Miller,  "  Standly's  vil- 
lanous  treachery  will  not  prosper." 

"  And  it  shall  not,  for  want  of  a  guide,  for  I  am  at 
your  service,"  said  Close. 

The  merchants  requested  Miller  to  go  after  break- 
fast the  next  morning,  to  Long  &  Buford,  asking  a 
call  from  them,  at  the  "  Eagle  Hotel,"  upon  Laurence 
&  Hyne ;  and,  it  now  being  a  late  hour  of  the  night, 
our  friends  went  to  their  beds,  where  it  was  at  a  still 
later  hour,  before  the  imaginations  of  either  became 
willing  to  accede  to  any  propositions  of  Morpheus. 

The  next  morning,  just  as  Miller  was  leaving  his 
room,  on  his  mission,  his  two  friends  entered  his 
apartment,  and  in  a  moment  after  a  rap  was  heard 
at  his  door,  followed  by  the  presence  of  Clermont. 
"  Pardon  me,  sir,"  said  he  to  the  attorney,  "  for  this 
intrusion,  I  thought  you  and  your  friend  were  alone." 

"Don't  mention  it,"  returned  the  attorney,  "for 
whether  so  or  not,  I  shall  always  be  glad  to  see  you." 
Then  addressing  the  merchants,  he  said,  "  Gentlemen, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Clermont." 

Another  agreeable  surprise  was  now  at  hand. 
"The  Chaplain  of  our  regiment,  William  Clermont?" 

"  Major  James  Laurence,  2d  Infantry  !  Sergeant 
Samuel  Hyne,  Co.  '  C.'",  were  the  instantaneous  ejacu- 
lations of  the  three  long  separated,  now  met  friends; 
when  the  hands  of  each  became  clinched,  accompanied 
by  that  peculiar  expression  of  feature,  betokening  the 
brilliancy  of  sincere  regard.  Here  Clermont  was  intro- 
duced, in  their  proper  characters,  to  the  Maniac  and 
the  Attorney,  when  the  latter  said, 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  417 

"  Well,  gentlemen,  I  will  leave  you,  for  the  present, 
in  the  enjoyment  of  that  pleasure,  'true  friendship,' 
felt  only  among  those  whose  hearts,  like  the  diamond, 
reflect  one  undeviating  brilliancy  in  every  position 
and  under  all  circumstances  of  life !" 

In  the  absence  of  Miller,  a  recurrence  of  the  vicissi- 
tudes through  which  they  had  passed,  was  being 
spoken  of,  until  Clermont,  speaking  of  the  sons  of 
Laurence  and  Hyne,  said, 

"  I  was  within  an  ace  of  performing  the  ceremony 
of  marriage  between  your  sons  and  two  of  the  choice 
work  of  Almighty  God's  master-pieces  of  creation. 
'  That  which  is  in  most  apparent  danger,  is  not  always 
followed  by  loss.'  " 

"  You  may  do  that  yet,"  replied  Laurence. 

Here,  reader,  we  will  leave  our  army  friends,  in- 
cluding Close,  (for  he  was  commanded  by  Col.  Left- 
ridge,  and,  of  course,  in  the  same  regiment  with  the 
others,)  engaged  in  the  pleasures  of  review,  and  ask 
your  permission,  as  we  have  done  frequently,  for  a 
short  time  to  look  into  Miller's  course,  and  their 
treatment  of  it,  in  the  presence  of  Long  &  Buford. 

The  mercantile  gentlemen,  so  often,  recently, 
alluded  to,  had,  as  is  the  false  custom  of  many,  con- 
ceived and  still  entertained  a  coolness  toward  Miller, 
for  no  other  reason  than  that  of  his  having  attended 
to  strictly  what  was  his  professional  duty  to  perform. 

Upon  Miller's  entry  at  their  counting-room,  he 
found  the  merchants  seated  at  a  comfortable  fire,  and 
in  rather  reflective  than  talkative  moods.  At  his 
appearance  before  them-,  their  countenances  became 
morose,  and  to  Miller's  salutation  of,  "  Good  morning, 
gentlemen !"  the  bare  shadow  of  common  civility  even 


418  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEKIXGAY, 

was  not  returned,  nor  a  chair  offered  by  either  of  the 
merchants.  Yet,  making  a  virtue  of  necessity,  es- 
pecially where  convenience  dictates  it,  Miller  put  his 
hand  upon  a  chair  within  his  reach,  and  soon  locating 
himself,  became  a  tenant  at  will  upon  it. 

The  difference  between  clowns  and  the  well-bred, 
was  here  manifest ;  and  Miller,  perceiving  a  want  of 
politeness  predicated  upon  a  want  of  sense,  deter- 
mined upon  having  it  more  strikingly  developed  in 
the  course  of  the  business  with  the  merchants,  for  the 
second  time  intrusted  to  him. 

"  How  is  business,  this  morning,  gentlemen  ?"  said 
Miller. 

"  Don't  know  that  it  is  any  concern  of  lawyers  to 
inquire,"  replied  Buford,  somewhat  agitated. 

"  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Buford ;  you  seem  excited,  and 
construe  what  intends  politeness  for  that  of  rudeness. 
What  have  I  done  to  merit  your  spleen  ?"  replied 
Miller. 

"  Enough,  sir ;  for  if  it  had  not  have  been  for  you, 
our  property  would  not  have  been  mortgaged,"  re- 
turned Buford. 

"  That's  your  mistake,  Mr.  Buford ;  for  if  I  had 
not  have  been  fortunate  in  getting  the  business,  and 
thereby  earning  a  fee  by  my  profession,  some  one  else 
would,"  calmly  replied  Miller. 

"  We  could  have  managed  it  more  to  our  interest, 
had  it  been  done  by  a  man  known  to  us,"  replied 
Buford.  "  Besides,  sir,"  continued  he,  "  it  has  de- 
prived us,  for  the  present,  of  entering  into  partnership 
with  Mr.  Standly  and  his  nephews,  who,  he  has  in- 
formed us  the  other  day  when  he  was  here,  are  to  be 
married  to  the  rich  heiresses  of  Fotheringay,  taken 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERIXGAY.  419 

from  the  hairbrained  youths,  Laurence  and  Hyne,  a 
day  or  two  before  you  came  to  our  town,  and  where 
we  wish  you  had  never  come.  There  is,  however,"  con- 
tinued the  vindictive  animal,  "  one  delicious  consola- 
tion left  us,  and  that  is,  that  those  loving  ladies  and 
eloping  gentlemen,  will,  it  is  hoped,  be  sent  to  the 
State  Hotel,  at  Richmond,  which  they  are  in  every 
way  qualified  boarders  for." 

"  That  is  a  hard  sentence,  and  may  prove  too  harsh 
an  one,  under  the  present  state  of  your  affairs," 
replied  Miller. 

"If  that  remark,  ' present  state  of  affairs,'  is  al- 
lusive to  our  embarrassments,  we  calculate,  with  no 
fear  of  success,  to  obtain  the  amount  from  the  mar- 
riage resources  I  speak  of,  to  pay  the  debt  to  Laurence 
&  Hyne.  And  then,"  continued  Buford,  "  change 
the  mortgage  to  a  more  lenient  holding,  in  the  hands 
of  those  far  more  liberal  and  generous  than  the  house 
you  are  the  lawyer  of  have  ever  been  to  us." 

"  Your  plans  are  wise  ones,  but  should  they  fail  in 
maturing,  will  be  a  death  blow  to  your  air  castled  and 
illiberal  as  unjust  aspersions,"  coolly  returned  Miller. 
"  But  we  will  change  the  subject  a  little.  I  have 
come  with  a  message  requesting  both  of  you  to  call 
upon  the  gentlemen  this  morning,  with  me,  at  the 
Eagle  Hotel,"  continued  Miller. 

"  What  gentlemen?"  said  Buford. 

"Mr.  Lawrence  and  Mr.  Hyne,"  replied  Miller. 

"What!  are  they  released?"  said  Long,  who  had, 
during  the  conversation  between  Bufbrd  and  Miller, 
remained  a  silent  listener. 

"Of  that  you  will  be  informed,  when  you  see 
them,"  returned  Miller 


420  THE    HEIKESSE3   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"  Well,"  continued  Long,  "  I  don't  know  what  busi- 
ness they  have  with  us,  but  we  will  go  and  see." 

Here,  taking  their  hats,  cloaks  and  gloves,  the  two 
merchants,  accompanied  by  Miller,  were  measuring 
their  steps  toward  the  hotel. 

On  their  way  to  the  "  Eagle,"  the  merchants  met 
with  a  citizen  of  the  town,  who  had  been  present  at 
their  recent  difficulty  already  known.  Seeing  the 
attorney  with  them,  the  gentleman,  in  a  kind  of  smile, 
said :  "  Well,  Long,  to  use  your  own  expression,  are 
you  going  to  live  at  the  sign  of  the  '  case  is  altered? 
again." 

"No,"  he  replied,  "But  the  prisoners  are  here 
again  wishing  to  see  us,  and,  as  I  suppose,  they  are 
ashamed  to  walk  in  our  streets,  we  are  on  our  way  to 
gratify  them." 

A  few  yards  further  brought  the  merchants  to  the 
hotel,  and  seeing  no  one,  not  even  the  occupant  land- 
lord, Mercer,  they  were  soon  in  the  presence  of — not 
the  prisoners — but  the  fathers  of  them. 

"Now  you  may  learn  what  they  want  with  you," 
as  getting  two  chairs,  Miller,  with  marked  politeness, 
in  his  own  room,  requested  them  to  take  seats. 

The  ease  with  which  the  well  bred  of  both  sexes 
use  one  of  nature's  best  auxiliaries,  of  a  well  bal- 
anced mind  and  correct  heart-sMtm^/,  was  being  in- 
stantly shown  by  Mr.  Laurence  and  Mr.  Hyne ;  while 
on  the  other  hand,  consternation  was  visible  in  every 
feature,  in  every  nerve,  in  all  the  recesses  of  an  un- 
grateful heart,  punctured  by  a  conscious  sense  of  re- 
morse, then  passing  in  the  minds  of  Long  and  Buford. 

"The  appearances  of  that  manly  rectitude  and 
serenity  of  brow,  with  which,  seventeen  years  since, 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  421 

you  came  as  strangers  before  us  and  obtained  from  us 
your  start  in  business,  seems  now  turned  into  wretched 
confusion,  and  which,  to  Mr.  Hyne  and  myself,  is  not 
only  surprizing  but,  I  may  add,  painful.  Can  we  do 
anything  now  to  release  you  from  such  appearances?" 
said  Laurence,  as  with  a  dignified  composure  and 
benevolent  look,  his  eyes  were  fixed  upon  them. 
Then  turning  to  Clerrnont,  Mr.  Laurence  continued  : 
"As  a  shepherd  of  your  flock  you  seem  to  have  been 
unfortunate  in  your  ecclesiastical  advices,  other  Avise 
this  confusion  would  not  be  the  consequence  of  a 
meeting  with  our  thoroughly  confided-in  friends ;  and 
we,  on  this  occasion,  reminded  of  the  forcible  truth  of 
an  old  maxim,  'that  a  calm  external  is  the  certain 
talisman  of  a  peaceful  bosom.' " 

"The  maxim  is  a  correct  one,"  returned  Clermont, 
"  and  I  regret  much  its  impressive  recall  to  your  mem- 
ory, in  its  course  upon  the  past  and  present  time;'' 

Without  a  solitary  remark  upon  the  recent  treat- 
ment of  his  own,  or  that  of  the  son  of  Mr.  Hyne, 
Laurence,  remembering  the  fact,  that  "  the  lash  pre- 
pared by  oneVself  foj  the  correction  of  others,  is  most 
severe  when  applied  to  the  chastisement  of  those  who 
prepare  it,  brought  in,  in  his  polite  and  gentlemanly 
way,  the  subject  of  his  settlement  with  them,  to  the 
notice  of  Long  and  Buford. 

"  "We  are  desirous,  gentlemen,"  contined  Laurence, 
"  of  closing  up  our  businesr?  and  retiring  from  the 
care  and  anxieties  of  a  mercantile  life.  In  which,  by 
permission  of  the  All  Wise,  we  have  amassed  a  com- 
petency for  ourselves  and  our  families.  Our  sons, 
should  it  suit  their  inclinations  and  tastes,  may  follow 
our  profession  ;  if  so,  a  capital  of  one  million  dollars 


422  THE   HEIKESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

each,  is  at  their  service.  And,"  continued  Laurence, 
"  all  we  have  now  to  do  iii  the  far  advance  of  our 
existence  is,  to  settle  up  the  outstanding  debts  due  our 
firm,  and  in  the  remainder  of  time  to  our  credit  upon 
earth,  perform  the  duty  of  Mentors  to  our  beloved 
children." 

"  Here,"  continued  Laurence,  opening  a  bundle  of 
papers,  "  are  the  different  accounts  of  your  purchases 
from  us,  endorsed  as  you  perceive,  upon  the  backs  of 
each  ;  as  to  their  correctness,  by  both,  when  we  last 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  in  our  city.  And  all 
now  necessary  is,  to  liquidate  the  gross  amount,  or 
secure  the  payment  of  it  to  us." 

The  chastisement,  as  intended,  was  effectual,  and 
under  the  security  of  its  smart,  the  merchants  acknow- 
ledged their  inability  to  meet  the  demand." 

"  Then,"  resumed  Laurence,  "  there  is  but  one  alter- 
native left  you,  and  that  is  the  latter  of  my  proposals, 
security" 

The  merchandise  of  Long  &  Buford,  the  ground  on 
which  stood  their  store,  their  own  residence,  the  tene- 
ment occupied  by  Clermont,  and  the  premises,  build- 
ings and  all  its  appurtenances  of  the  often-mentioned 
"  Eagle  hotel,"  had  been  kept  out  of  the  mortgage 
heretofore  spoken  of.  And  it  was  only  those  upon 
which  the  payment  of  the  current  account  for  pur- 
chases made  by  Long  &  Buford,  of  Laurence  and 
Hyne,  of  eight  thousand  dollars,  were  the  indemni 
ties  for. 

The  dates  to  which,  the  work  have  reference  were 
not  those  wherein  inducements  for  speculation  on  the 
rise  and  rapid  increase  of  the  demand  for,  as  price  of 
real  estate  ;  nor  the  cool  and  keen  calculating  genius 


THE  HEIRESSES   OF'  FOTHERINGAY.  423 

discovered  in  their  operations  there,  as  is  elsewhere 
the  case  in  the  present  day.  Hence  it  required  more 
squares  of  ground  in  the  country  town  here  alluded 
to,  and  acres  by  the  hundred  of  the  country  surround- 
ing it,  to  secure  the  payment  of  Long  &  Buford's  debt 
to  Laurence  &  Hyne,  than  is  the  case  in  places 
where  improvement  and  commerce  furnishes  the 
impulse  to  speculation. 

Thus  situated,  the  real  estate  of  the  firm  of  Long  & 
Buford,  uncovered  by  the  former  mortgage,  fell  far 
short,  after  the  most  liberal  valuation  allowed  upon 
it,  of  the  debt  due.  And  the  next  consideration  on 
the  part  of  the  creditors  was  how  to  arrive  at  proper, 
as  honorable  conclusions  relative  to  the  count,  and 
disposal  of  the  goods  and  merchandise  of  the  firm. 

Here  Miller,  the  equally  gentlemanly  friend  of  both 
parties,  ventured  a  remark  as  follows:  "I  have  no 
right,  Mr.  Laurence  and  Mr.  Hyne,  to  say  any  thing 
contrary  to  your  interests  as  your  attorney ;  nor  do  I 
intend  it.  And  with  regard  to  Messrs.  Long  &  Buford, 
I  wish  them  to  understand  me,  as  intending  nothing 
dishonorable,  or  in  the  least  disreputable  toward 
them." 

Here  Miller  suggested,  that  as  the  court  in  which  it 
could  be  done  was  then  in  session,  that  Messrs.  Long 
&  Buford  should  confess  and  suffer  judgment  to  be 
rendered  for  the  portion  of  the  debt  against  them  re- 
maining unsecured.  Then  by  virtue  of  replevin,  and 
their  acknowledged  right  to  effects,  their  merchandise 
being  surrendered,  an  account  of  stock  could  be 
taken — that  invoice  placed  in  the  amount  to  their 
credit,  and  the  goods  disposed  of. 

The  proposition  being  agreed  to,  the  next  day  the 


424:  THE   HEIKE3SES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

store  of  Long  &  Buford  was  closed,  and  an  account  of 
stock  being  taken,  assisted  by  their  old  yet  illiberally 
treated  friends,  Laurence  &  Hyne,  and  their  attorney 
Miller. 

As  is  too  lamentably  the  truth,  many  men  falsely 
think  it  infringing  on  their  dignity,  and  too  conde- 
scending in  the  rank  and  title  of  '"  lords  of  creation" 
to  let  those  whom  they  have  solemnly  constituted 
their  bosom  friends  for  life,  know  any  thing  more  of 
their  business  affairs  than  they  do  a  horse  they  would 
bridle  and  saddle  to  carry  them  a  mile  guided  by  the 
rein  and  propelled  by  the  spur.  "Vanity  of  vanities!" 
Had  nine-tenths  of  the  men  but  one-half  of  solid  rea- 
son in  the  seat  of  sense,  as  there  is  a  profusion  of  hair 
upon  the  head  and  face,  such  shameful  neglect  of  one 
of  Almighty  God's  best  gifts  to  man  —  Woman  — 
would  never  be  thought  of;  for  the  counsels  of  an  af- 
fectionate wife  are  cased  in  the  most  precious  of  all 
gems,  purity;  having  its  origin  in  the  fount  of  love, 
ending  only  with  life  itself, 

Such  was  the  case  with  Long  and  Buford,  for  they 
belonged  to  that  class  men  who  think  a  urife  ought  not 
to  know  any  thing  of  a  husband's  affairs — not  entitled 
to  the  honors  of  counsel,  and  like  the  automaton,  are 
only  fit  to  move  as  they  are  moved. 

Madam  Long  and  Madam  Buford  were  not  aware  of 
the  conduct  of  their  husbands  towards  young  Laurence 
and  young  Hyne.  Nor  were  they  informed  of  the 
wreck  immediately  following,  or  of  the  complete  ruin 
then  being  accomplished  in  the  business  of  their  hus- 
husbands. 

The  ladies  of  whom  we  are  now  speaking,  were  of 
that  order  of  superior  intellect  to  which  all  of  their  sex 


THE   HEIKE3SE3   OF   FOTHERIXGAY.  425 

are  arrivable — discountenancing  the  passion  for  news- 
carrying  and  gossiping.  Home  was  their  empire;  and 
the  natural  diadem,  studded  by  love  and  duty,  were 
the  ornaments  of  distinction  by  which  they  were 
known  and  appreciated  for,  among  the  circles  in 
which  they  moved. 

The  morning  of  the  third  day  after  the  close  of  their 
store,  the  inventories  of  the  merchandise  on  hand  of 
the  firm  of  Long  &  Buford  were  completed.  In  their 
counting-room,  the  several  amounts  of  them  were 
placed  to  the  credit  of  the  debtors  Laurence  & 
Hyne — in  possession  of  the  mortgage  proposed,  with 
their  goods  and  merchandise.  Long  &  Buford  were 
then  truly  living  at  the  sign  of  "the  case  is  altered." 

Like  an  avalanche,  though  if  possible  more  terrible 
in  its  fall  upon  the  minds  of  thousands  of  the  virtuous 
fair  than  the  idea  of  living  among  the  bergs  of  the 
Arctic,  the  news  of  their  ruin  was  made  known  by 
Long  &  Buford  to  their  ladies,  with  the  first  intima- 
tion of  the  prime  cause  of  it — their  illiberal  deport- 
ment towards  young  Laurence  and  young  Hyne — and 
of  the  fact  of  their  fathers  being  then  in  town  and  at 
the  "  Eagle  Hotel." 

A  true  lady  is  like  (though  known  only  to  Him) 
God's  elect ;  ever  correct  in  manners,  deportment  and 
heart.  And  Madames  Long  and  Buford  being  'of 
that  class  of  their  sex  of  which  we  have  just  spoken, 
determined  upon  casting  themselves  and  one  lovely 
daughter  each,  on  the  compassion,  regard,  and  sympa- 
thy of  our  northern  merchants. 

The  next  morning  after  the  disasters  that  had  over- 
taken Long  &  Buford,  and  after  their  ladies  had 
requested  their  appearance  in  company  with  them, 


426  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   POTHERING  AY. 

before  the  New  York  gentlemen;  but  refusal,  conse- 
quent upon  disturbed  minds  and  deep  sense  of  their 
late  ingratitude,  Laurence  and  Hyne  were  preparing 
their  arrangements  previous  to  departure. 

They  had  sent  for — and  Clermont  being  in  their 
presence,  was  in  social  glee  with  Miller,  Close,  Hyne 
and  Laurence  upon  the  past  and  present  events  of  life, 
with  the  expressed  views  and  plans  of  each  upon  the 
checkered  remainder  falling  in  with  and  upon  them. 

In  descanting  upon  the  different  conditions  incident 
to  man,  Laurence  said — "  The  industrious  and  honest 
poor  are  ornaments  of  the  sublime  structure  of  the 
creation,  from  the  hands  of  Almighty  God,  while  the 
rich  are  fearfully  accountable  for  the  use  they  make 
of  their  wealth.  For  my  own  part,  gentlemen,  I  have 
ever  tried,"  continued  Laurence,  "to  be  humble  in 
the  sight  of  Him  who  bestows  and  who  takes  away 
at  will ;  and  now  to  dispute  his  right  to  his  mode  of 
doing  so,  blessed,  not  from  my  own  merits,  but  by 
the  mercies  of  the  Most  High,  I  am  in  possession  of 
much  of  the  goods,  and  more  than  a  sufficiency  to 
answer  mine,  and  purposes  of  mine  of  this  world — 
and  as  such,  think  myself  the  humble  agent  only  of 
my  Creator,  in  good  works."  Just  as  the  speaker  had 
given  utterance  to  the  words,  "in  good  works,"  a  ser- 
vant entered  the  room  and  said,  "Four  ladies  ask 
permission  to  see  the  gentlemen  from  New  York." 

"  It  is  granted  ;  conduct  them  to  this  room,"  replied 
Laurence.  In  a  few  moments  the  ladies  made  their 
appearance,  and  possessing  that  which  distinguished 
them  from  those  who  are  not  so,  a  gracefulness,  not 
forced  nor  awkward,  but  with  an  ease  striking  the 
beholder  at  once  with  respect  and  esteem,  bowed  to 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  427 

Clermont,  and  asked  an  introduction  to  the  gentlemen 
they  wished  to  see.  That  etiquette  performed,  and 
the  ladies  being  seated,  Mrs.  Long,  addressing  Lau- 
rence and  Hyne,  said,  "  Gentlemen,  we  are  strangers, 
though  our  husbands  are  not,  neither  to  you,  nor  to 
your  generosity.  The  time  has  come  when  they  have 
dishonored  the  former,  and  forfeited  the  latter,  and  in 
doing  so,  have  more  .than  probably  brought  upon 
them  an  act  from  you,  though,  just,  which  renders 
them  penniless,  and  their  wives,  and  those  (looking  at 
the  young  ladies  as  she  spoke,)  pledges  of  their  love, 
dependents  upon  your  clemency,  your  generosity,  and 
your  indulgence.  All  this  could  have  been  averted ; 
was  not  the  belief  a  general  one,  that  the  women, 
being  the  weaker  of  the  two  sexes,  are  thereby  not 
worthy  of  being  consulted  with  on  matters  of  business 
in  which  their  husbands  ate  engaged.  And  now, 
sirs,"  continued  Madame  Long,  "in  the  extreme 
alternative  between  abject  poverty,  and  fondly 
cherished  faith,  hope  and  charity,  in  behalf  of  our 
husbands,  ourselves  and  our  children,  we  ask  your 
forgiveness  of  the  wrongs  done  you,  and  trial  of  con- 
fidence reposed  once  more." 

Here  that  auxilliary  to  the  effective  force  of  vir- 
tuous woman's  appeal,  instantly  gushed  from  the  just 
before  brilliantly  expressive,  but  now  bathed  eyes  of 
Madame  Long — added  to  from  those  of  Mrs.Buford, — 
joined  in  with  by  hers  and  the  daughter  of  the 
speaker. 

The  appeal  of  the  ladies  was  unexpected,  as  it  was 
a  new  crisis  in  the  business  transaction  with  Long  & 
Buford.  And  for  some  time  after  its  penetrating 
delivery,  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  mute,  as  if 


428  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIERINGAY. 

the  power  of  articulated  reply  had  become  paralysed. 
At  length  recovering  from  the  reflective  mood  into 
which  he  and  the  gentlemen  present  had  been  thrown, 
and  its  result  to  be  shown  in  one  way  or  another,  by 
him  and  Hyne,  Laurence  replied  to  Mrs.  Long,  as 
follows:  "Madam,  I,  and  I  bolieve  Mr.  Hyne,  are 
ever  open  to  the  appeals  of  suffering  humanity,  and 
if  I  may  not  be  thought  vain  in  the  expression — in- 
calculably so,  when  those  appeals  proceed  from  the 
virtuous  of  your  sex.  Though  a  matter  of  great 
astonishment,  as  well  as,  sorrow,  the  intelligence  of 
the  late  treatment  of  our  sons  from  Messrs.  Long  & 
Buford,  was  to  us,  Mr.  Hyne  and  me,  determined  not 
even  to  advert  to  it  in  any  way  at  the  time  of  our 
settlement  with  them,  nor  ever  after ;  consequently, 
had  hoped  to  leave  without  anything  transpiring  to 
break  that  intention  and  emanating  from  any  here.  But 
your  appearance,  and  the  appeal  made  to  our  gene- 
rosity has  altered  my  own,  and  I  expect,  purpose  of 
Mr.  Hyne.  Yet,  madam,"  continued  Laurence,  "  what- 
ever purpose  that  may  be,  we  will,  for  the  present, 
with  great  deference  to  you  both,  decline  taking  any 
course  in,  until  Mr.  Long  and  Mr.  Buford  with  you, 
and  your  children  are  with  us,  and  in  presence  of 
those  now  here." 

In  a  few  moments  after  the  reply  of  Mr.  Laurence, 
and  at  their  own  proposal  to  do  so,  the  ladies  left  the 
apartment,  with  a  view  of  bringing  Mr.  Long  and  Mr. 
Buford  into  the  presence  of  our  New  York  merchants. 

"  Well,  gentlemen,"  said  Hyne,  as  the  elder  and 
junior  ladies  left  the  door,  "  we  know  not  what  a  day 
may  bring  forth,  in  however  calculating  we  may  be, 
amid  the  affairs  of  life.  Yesterday,  in  the  settlement 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  429 

of  the  house  of  Laurence  &  Hyne  with  that  of  Long 
&  Buford,  no  other  thought  upon  the  further  inter- 
course of  the  two  houses  occupied  my  mind,  but  that 
of  a  fixed  resolution  to  have  done  with  all  future  busi- 
ness, or  even  social  matters,  with  those  who,  in  the 
hour  of  distress,  and  want  of  a  friend  in  it,  could  so 
coolly  as  deliberately  become  treacherous  to  kindness 
bestowed,  and  ingrates  to  those  by  whom  conferred. 
I  repeat  it,"  continued  Hyne,  "  that  those  were  my 
thoughts ;  but  after  hearing  the  appeal  to  Mr.  Laurence 
and  me,  of  those  ladies — who  are  more  so  as  such,  than 
their  husbands  are  meritorious  as  men — my  mind  is 
changed.  Not,  however,  to  befriend  Long  &  Buford 
again,  but  to  benefit  their  ladies  and  their  children." 

"  I  had  thought  as  much  while  occasionally  looking 
at  you,  during  the  remarks  made  by  Madam  Long," 
replied  Clermont. 

"  And  so  did  I,  for  it  reminded  me  of  many  similar 
expressions  of  countenance  in  acts  of  benevolence 
done  by  Colonel  Leftridge  and  Major  Laurence  to  the 
officers  and  private  soldiers  of  the  old  2nd  Regiment 
infantry,  Virginia  line,  of  the  army  of  the  Revolution," 
said  Close. 

"  We  feel  indebted  to  you,  Mr.  Close,  for  the  com- 
pliment, in  speaking  of  things  long  passed,  the  recall 
of  which  produces  no  remorse  while  living,  nor  wreck 
of  faith  when  the  events  of  this  cease,  and  another 
world  opens  upon  the  immortal  man" 

"  What,"  said  Laurence  to  Hyne,  as  he  finished  his 
remarks,  "  is  the  course  you  would  recommend  in  the 
affair  now  before  us  ?" 

"  That,  sir,  which  you  may  conclude  upon,  will  be 
acceded  to  by  me,"  replied  Hyne. 


430  THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

Just  at  that  moment  the  room  door  was  re-opened, 
and  the  four  ladies,  accompanied  by  the  late  merchants 
of  the  town  of  **********  were  again  in  the  presence 
of  those  whose  names  are  now  familiar  to  our  readers, 
when  another  example  of  marked  politeness  was  being 
shown,  and  so  much  so  as  to  have  effected,  to  a  con- 
siderable extent,  their  object,  in  dissipating  confusion 
in  the  minds  of  their  late  respected  friends,  and  pre- 
paring their  minds  for  what  they  had  come  there  to 
hear  and  know  performed. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Laurence  to  Long  &  Buford,  "  in 
the  settlement  lately  had  with  you,  and  even  before  it 
took  place,  Mr.  Hyne  and  myself  were  in  possession 
of  the  treatment  with  which  our  sons  had  "met  from 
you,  in  the  time  of  their  distress  and  need  of  aid.  We 
had  determined  no  advert  to  it  whatever  to  you,  but 
to  let  its  recollection  remain  with  us,  as  a  lasting  and 
striking  example  of  that  want  of  gratitude  so  often 
met  with  in  the  intercourse  of  man  with  man.  Your 
ladies,  however,  have  altered  somewhat  in  us  that 
intention  towards  you  ;  and  it  is  to  them,  not  us,  that 
your  gratitude,  if  you  possess  any,  is  due,  for  what 
we  now — in  imitation  of  that  august  Power,  and  Au- 
thor of  all  greatness — intend  returning,  a  good  for  an 
evil  performed  by  you.  In  furtherance  of  OUT  inten- 
tion, sirs,  it  is  proper  here  to  state,  that  we  cannot 
execute  it  severally  without  your  permission,  as  sanc- 
tion. And  here  suffer  me  to  add,"  continued  Laurence, 
"  that,  if  agreeable,  we  will  cancel  the  debt  you  have 
recently  settled  by  mortgage  of  eight  thousand  dollars, 
and  restore  to  you  the  goods  and  merchandise  in  our 
possession,  provided  you  give  to  us  deeds  to  the  pro- 
perty now  occupied  by  Mr.  Clermont,  and  the  ground 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  431 

and  tenements  of  the  '  Eagle  Hotel,'  occupied  now  by 
Mr.  Mercer,  with  two  other  conditions  to  those  I  have 
named :  First,  that  you  will  allow  us  to  settle  upon 
your  ladies,  by  deeds  or  gifts,  all  the  real  and  personal 
estate  covered  in  the  mortgage,  with  the  exception  of 
the  properties  just  spoken  of;  and  lastly,  that  you  will 
allow  us  to  present  to  Madam  Long  and  Madam  Bu- 
ford,  letters  of  credit  to  an  amount  of  two  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars  each,  made  payable  by  them  to  us, 
or  our  order,  at  some  future  time  specified." 

Here  thankfulness  in  its  purity  of  gratitude  was 
being  instantly  shown  by  the  ladies,  and  that  inward 
conviction  which  is  at  last  the  only  salutary  corrective 
of  vice.  The  condescension  of  the  great  I  Am  in 
righting  that  which  he  had  made  pure,  but  which  from 
forgetfulness  of  duty  becomes  corrupt,  was  also  shown 
in  the  deportment  of  our  late  merchants,  who  acknow- 
ledging their  ungratefulness  became  forgiven  but  never 
forgotten  by  their  wronged  friends. 

The  cancel,  transfer,  and  deeds  spoken  of,  having 
all  been  done,  the  next  morning  was  fixed  upon  by 
Laurence  and  Hyne  for  their  departure.  The  day 
of  that  business,  and  after  they  had  dined,  our  four 
friends,  with  Clermont  added,  being  in  Miller's  room, 
the  remarks  became  general  upon  the  events  that  had 
taken  place,  when  Laurence  said,  '•'  I  have  one  more 
object  in  view  to  perform  before  we  leave  this  village 
which  may  one  day  or  another  be  a  town  of  some  com- 
mercial advantages,  and  of  course  of  more  notoriety 
than  it  now  is." 

"  What  is  that  ?"  was  the  almost .  simultaneous 
interrogatory  of  all  present. 

"  I  am  not,"  replied  Laurence,  "  one  of  that  c'asa 


432  THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY. 

of  men  who  wish  to  wait  until  they  are  dead  in  order 
to  see  (as  an  Irishman  would  express  it)  how  those 
whom  they  think  well  enough  of  to  leave  anything 
to  would  use  the  gift  and  think  of  the  giver.  When 
I  am  no  more,  I  will  be  insensible  to  the  affairs  of 
this  life,  and  consequently  cannot  know  how  those 
who  may  be  my  favorites  here  use  what  they  get,  at 
my  generosity,  and  how  they  speak  of  me.  So  far 
as  I  can,"  continued  Laurence,  "without  detriment 
to  my  own.  and  that  of  the  comforts  of  my  family, 
I  want  to  see  and  know  all  that  while  in  existence  ; 
and  here,  permit  me  to  add,  that  I  wish  to  make  a 
trial  of  my  opinions  in  two  now,  and  the  third,  by-and- 
by,  present." 

At  that  moment  the  eyes  of  Close,  Clermont  and 
Miller  were  alternately  fixed  upon  one  and  the  other 
of  themselves,  and  then  upon  Laurence,  which  Hyne 
perceiving,  said  to  the  latter  : 

"  In  that  way  peculiar  to  yourself,  sir,  you  have 
excited  mine  as  well  as  the  attention  of  others,  as  you 
have  just  said — present.  Excuse  me  for  saying  that 
whatever  you  do,  I  claim  a  participation  in.  And 
for  putting  the  question  direct,  To  what  now,  have 
you  reference?" 

"  To  that  of  conferring  as  a  gift  upon  him,  the  pro- 
perty now  occupied  by  Mr.  Clermont;  and  upon  Mr. 
Close  this  tenement,  or  in  other  words  the  Eagle 
Hotel,  and  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging,  to 
them  and  their  heirs  for  ever,  of  (looking  directly  at 
Close  arid  Clermont)  those  deserving,  though  poor 
gentlemen." 

"  I  cheerfully  concur  with  you  in  sentiment  and 
feeling,"  said  Hyne,  in  reply  to  Laurence.  While 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  433 

the  announcement  of  it,  and  sudden  surprise  of  Cler- 
mont  and  Close  refused  utterance  for  a  time  to  their 
attempts  at  speech.  In  their  confusion  Laurence  said, 
"  Nothing  gentlemen,  is  necessary  for  you  to  say,  but 
that  you  accept  of  our  marks  of  esteem  thus  mani- 
fested towards  you."  Then  turning  to  Miller,  Lau- 
rence directed  him  to  write  the  deeds. 

The  gifts  were  accepted ;  the  cordial  thanks  of  the 
parties  were  tendered.  The  following  morning  Mercer 
became  the  tenant  of  the  Maniac,  through  a  temporary 
guardianship  of  the  stranger.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Clermont 
found  himself  owner  of  his  neat  cottage,  and  its 
grounds.  Madame  Long  and  Madam  Buford  were  in 
the  mercantile  business,  (Long  and  Buford,  Agents) ; 
the  citizens  of  the  village  somewhat  astonished,  but 
for  want  of  knowing  the  true  cause  of  appearances 
were  at  a  loss,  to  know  what  to  begin  at  first,  in  the 
plentiful  supply  of  food  for  meddling  with  the  business 
of  others  unasked. 

After  they  had  dined,  Laurence,  the  Attorney,  Hyne 
and  the  Maniac,  in  his  sphere  in  other  scenes  of  dis- 
sembling, disappeared  from  the  town  and  its  inhabi- 
tants, among  whom  so  much  had  been  said  of  matters 
that  they  knew  nothing  of,  the  causes  for,  nor  business 
to  make  unjust  as  illiberal  remarks  upon, 
day. 


28 


434  THE  HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERINGAY. 


CHAPTER    XLIII. 

Merit  is  its  own  reward !  and  in  the  distribution  of  its  gifts,  forgets  not 
those  to  whom  credit,  love,  constancy  and  obedience  are  due. 

WHAT  next,  is  now  to  follow,  you  may  be  thinking 
of  reader.  Indulge  us  a  while  longer,  and  we  shall  have 
told  you  the  entire  of  what  is  intended  to  be  written 
in  this  work,  aimed  at  thus  far,  as  in  the  future  of  it, 
to  merit  your  approval. 

Pregnant,  as  was  natural  to  them,  with  their  now  main 
desire  to  get  to  where  their  sons  had  conceived  and 
laid  the  foundation  of  earthly  bliss,  where,  too,  base 
fraud  had  been  resorted  to,  and  practised  to  demolish 
it,  our  gentlemen  from  New  York  bent  their  onward 
way  through  the  intricate  defiles  of  the  mountains, 
piloted  by  those  well  conversant  with  them.  And  at 
the  commencement  of  the  second  day's  journey,  after 
leaving  the  village,  Laurence  and  Hyne,  were  but  with 
one  of  their  friends  (Miller,)  conducted  in  the  route, 
superseding  the  necessity  of  crossing  the  river  often 
mentioned,  and  which  yet  flush,  disputed  any  attempt 
to  pass  it. 

The  morning  just  spoken  of,  the  Maniac  bid  an 
adieu  to  his  three  friends,  and  with  an  intent  of  watch- 
ing the  movements  of  the  Mr.  Sheriff  and  his  water- 
bound  party,  was  soon  lost  sight  of  among  the 
different  turns  of  the  mountains,  and  in  an  opposite 
direction  to  that  pursued  by  Miller. 

At  about  sunset  of  the  second  day,  after  he  had  left 
his  friends,  and  when  on  the  top  of  one  of  the  spurs 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  435 

of  that  range  of  mountains  leading  to  the  cabin  at  the 
first  crossing  of  the  Eoanoke  river,  and  where,  too,  the 
Mr.  Sheriff'  and  his  party  were  detained,  the  sound  of, 
a  bugle  attracted  the  attention  of  Sligo.  Halting  for  the 
purpose  of  catching  a  renewal  (if  any)  of  another  well- 
known  blast,  and  thereby  ascertaining  the  probable 
distance  its  blower  might  be  from  him,  the  fine  ani- 
mal he  was  upon  put  forward  his  small  and  well- 
shaped  ears,  as  if  to  say  to  his  rider,  "  That  sound  is 
familiar  to  me,  for  it  is  like  that  of  the  bugle  notes  of 
Captain  Nevelle." 

Sligo  was  still,  and  yet  intent  upon  his  object  ^  at 
length  heard  the  third  blast  of  the  bugle  as  its  sound 
reverberated  amid  the  chasms  of  the  lofty  mountains 
by  which  he  was  then  surrounded.  Here  his  gallant 
steed  began  champing  the  bit  and  pawing  the  earth 
upon  which  he  stood  with  a  restlessness  preparatory 
to  a  start,  and  as  if  to  say,  "  Master,  let  me  carry  you 
quick  to  camp." 

It  was  indeed  the  signal  for  retreat  that  Sligo  had 
heard,  and  in  the  next  moment,  yielding  to  the  in- 
stinctive mettle  of  his  horse,  and  slackening  the  reins 
of  his  bridle,  the  noble  animal  in  an  adverse  direction 
to  that  first  thought  of  by  Sligo,  (the  cabin  at  the 
crossing)  was  with  his  "rider  swiftly  approaching  an 
encampment  well-known  to  both,  at  the  foot  of  an- 
other spur  of  the  mountains,  and  at  a  narrow  pass 
leading  to  the  bluffs  commanding  a  view  of  the  river 
and  cabin  already  mentioned.  Arriving  at  the  camp, 
his  horse  extended  his  hitherto  bowed  neck,  then 
banding  it  again,  drew  down  his  head,  as  if  to  say, 
"  We  are  in  the  presence  of  Captain  Nevelle  and  his 
command." 


436  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

In  advance  of  the  execution  of  his  premeditated 
plans,  dictated  to  him  in  his  last  interview  with  the 
ladies  at  Fotheringay,  this  spot  had  been  selected  as 
"  head  quarters"  and  rendezvous  of  his  men  till  fur- 
ther orders  from  Captain  Nevelle,  and,  among  other 
purposes,  for  the  express  one  of  watching  the  move- 
ments of  Standly,  whose  treachery,  too  flagrant  to  con- 
tain itself,  had  begun  a  development  not  discovered, 
till  by  the  ladies  on  their  return  home,  under  escort 
of  Standly,  from  the  town  of  *#•**#*****. 

Part  of  Standly's  plans  are  already  known  to  our 
readers,  and  a  part  of  the  remaining  balance,  still 
more  dark  than  that  already  spoken  of,  must  here  be 
recited. 

From  the  moment  young  Laurence  and  young 
Hyne  had  refused  any  longer  making  a  confident  of 
him,  Standly  formed  his  plan  of  treachery  in  that 
which  had  been  confided  to  his  special  keeping,  by 
not  only  the  young  .gentlemen  but  those  of  their 
fathers,  Mr.  Laurence  and  Mr.  Hyne. 

Thus,  flushed  with  new  designs,  aided  by  a  demon- 
like  spirit,  involving  gain  at  the  idea  of  self  promo- 
tion in  ill-gotten  wealth,  he  had,  as  is  already  known, 
written  to  his  nephews.  Nor  did  his  villanous  pur- 
poses stop  there,  for  when  being  commissioned,  by 
the  gentlemen  at  Fotberingay,  to  go  in  pursuit  of  the 
fugitives,  he  resolved  to  make  their  detection  an 
effectual  auxiliary  to  the  perfecting  of  his  plans.  To 
that  purpose  he  pronounced  falsehoods  on  their  arrest, 
an  account  of  which  is  some-  time  since  before  our 
readers.  Subsequently  to  that,  Standly  tampered  with 
Mercer — incensed  the  minds  of  Long  and  Buford, — 
made  a  similar  attempt  upon  the  mind  of  young 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTIIERESTGAY.  437 

Miller,  in  the  pursuit  of,  and  after  the  arrest  of  the 
fugitives. 

And  thence,  on  their  return  home,  made  known 
his  suit  in  behalf  of  his  nephews  to  Ellen  and  Susan. 
The  two  latter  spurned  the  indignity  offered  to  their 
fixed  affections,  and  the  former  treated  with  high- 
" toned  contempt  the  assassin-like  impudence  of  the 
black  hearted  ingrate. 

Led  on  by  a  delusive  hope,  even  among  the  frowns 
of  those  whose  brilliancy  of  soul  ougbt  to  have 
lighted  another  passion  within  him,  Stanclly  resorted 
to  one  more  effort  in  the  attempt  of  his  object;  and 
that  was,  like  the  chameleon,  to  change  his  color — 
appear  as  the  friend  of  the  prisoners,  on  their  way  to 

the  jail  of  ;  pretend  a  full  confidence  in  him, 

by  the  gentlemen  at  Fotheringay,  and  on  meeting, 
with  the  Mr.  Sheriff  and  his  party,  to  produce  a  letter, 
proposing  a  quash  of  further  proceedings  against  the 
criminals — paying  fees  and  charges  thus  far  incurred, 
thereby  inducing  release.  Arid,  on  their  pretended 
peaceful  route  with  him  to  the  home  of  those  they 
loved,  to  administer,  in  prepared  brandy,  doses  of 
slow  poison,  in  order  to  bring  about  the  appearance, 
at  least,  of  the  natural  deaths  of  the  sons  of  his 
patrons. 

At  Fotheringay,  Standly,  deep  in  his  designs,  still 
maintained  the  appearance  of,  and  moved  the  gentle- 
man ;  though,  from  the  day  on  which  he  returned  with 
the  ladies,  the  latter  never  admitted  him  to  their 
presence.  Not  so,  however,  with  young  Miller,  for 
him  and'  his  brother  possessed  souls  the.  lustre  of 
which  displayed  a  nobleness  of  mind  too  elevated  to 


438  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

be  reached  by  atrocity,  and  too   independent  to  be 
approached  by  a  self-ingrate. 

For  several  days  after  his  return,  and  at  the 
"  Mountain  Inn,"  Standly  was  more  in  his  room,  than 
previous  to  his  mission,  it  had  been  his  custom  to  be : 
and,  indeed,  his  deportment  had  become  so  materially 
changed  from  that  formerly  noticed  in  him,  that  sus- 
picions of  something  wrong  had  daily  increased. 
About  the  time  he  supposed  the  Sheriff  would  be  on 
the  move  with  the  prisoners,  Standly  formed  an 
excuse  for  a  temporary  absence,  and  soon  was  away, 
no  one  knew  where,  nor  upon  what  business.  That 
absence,  as  it  subsequently  turned  out,  was  with  the 
hope  and  purpose  of  meeting  with  the  Mr.  Sheriff, 
his  men,  and  the  prisoners. 

Nevelle  was  at  his  post,  and  upon  the  alert 4  aided 
by  the  intrepid  Lieutenant  Everett,  whom  our 
readers  may  not  have  forgotten  in  the  affair  at  the 
"  Take-in  House." 

Standly  and  his  movements  were  more  intently 
noticed  than  he  had  any  idea  of.  That — the  cabin  at 
the  first  crossing  of  the  river,  Mr.  Sheriff  and  his 
party  being  there — the  reasons  for  it — and  the  location 
at  an  early  period  after  the  arrest,  of  the  encampment 
of  Captain  Nevelle,  will  account  to  my  readers  for 
the  cause  of  the  appearance  of  Sligo  among  his 
known  friends  and  fellow-gentlemen  confederates. 

Intent  upon  the  success  of  his  villanous  plans, 
Standly  had  managed  to  avoid  all  crossings  of  the 
river,  save  the  one  at  which  stood  the  cabin,  and  on 
the  side  that  Nevelle  and  his  party  had  encamped. 

In  that  dilemma,  having  stopped  at  the  hut  of  a 
squatter,  in  view  of  the  cabin  on  the  opposite  shore 


THE  HEIRESSES  OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  439 

from  him,  Standly  watched  the  gradual  as  daily  de- 
cline of  the  then  less  enraged  stream,  noticing  as 
particularly  as  he  could  the  egress  and  ingress,  out 
and  in,  of  others  and  the  proprietors  of  the  cabin. 

Sligo  had  given  to  the  Captain,  and  the  persons  of 
his  command,  a  minute  account  of  all  the  incidents 

having  transpired  at  the  town  of ,  and  dwelt, 

with  no  ordinary  degree  of  eulogy,  upon  the  gene- 
rosity of  Messrs.  Laurence  and  Hyne  to  him  and 
Clermont,  and  alluded  to  intended  liberality  of  the 
gentlemen  to  Miller.  But  in  Sligo's  remarks  upon 
that  occasion,  upon  Long  &  Buford,  he  was  satirical, 
as  the  former  named  gentlemen  had  been  generous 
and  kind  to  the  wives  and  daughters  of  the  latter. 

One  evening,  just  before  sunset,  while  the  officers 
and  their  command  of  bandits,  were  seated  at  a  good 
fire,  in  front  of  the  tent-doorway  of  Nevelle,  review- 
ing, in  social  converse,  the  scenes  and  acts  of  their 
past  lives,  and  commenting  upon  those  of  a  like 
nature  passed  by  others,  there  was  seen  at  some  dis- 
tance a  lady  on  horseback,  and  approaching  their 
encampment.  Upon  her  nearer  approach,  she  was 
discovered  to  be  the  younger  of  the  daughters  of 
Sligo,  or,  in  other  words,  Miss  Close. 

From  the  respect  and  esteem  in  which  his  family 
was  ever  held,  the  moment  of  her  arrival  was  in- 
stantly hailed  by  all  with  courtesy  in  rivalship,  wel- 
coming her  to  their  tented  quarters. 

"  Some  unusual  event,  my  dear  Laertes,  has  brought 
you  here.  What  is  it?"  eagerly  inquired  Sligo. 

Imprinting  a  kiss  upon  the  old  veteran's  lips,  his 
lovely  daughter,  with  an  emblematic  smile  of  inno- 
cence and  virtue,  replied,  "Wait,  dear  father,  till  your 


440  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEKINGAY. 

hungry  daughter  gets  something  to  eat,  (looking 
around  her  and  at  each  gentleman  as  she  spoke,)  if  I 
have  even  to  cook  it  myself,  and  then  you  shall  hear." 

Instantly  Armsdale,  who  was  that  day  caterer,  as 
cook  to  the  mess,  went  to  their  temporary  though 
plentifully  supplied  larder,  and  commenced  getting 
supper,  and  in  doing  so  to  prepare  something  extra  for 
for  the  comfort  of  their  fair  guest.  Miss  Close  per- 
ceiving it,  said,  "  Mr.  Armsdale,  ladies  are  better  cooks 
than  gentlemen  are  supposed  to  be ;  on  this  occasion  I 
claim  the  pleasure  of  serving  Capt.  Nevelle  and  his 
party  in  that  capacity,  with  the  additional  one  of  pre- 
siding mistress  of  ceremonies,  while  I  remain  at  your 
camp." 

Thus  saying,  Miss  Close  politely  requested  Arms 
dale  to  resume  the  seat  he  had  vacated,  and  soon  she 
was  employed  at  what  ought  to  be  one  of  the  first  re- 
quisites of  those  who  calculate  upon  being  (and  we 
suppose  there  are  few  at  least  who  do  not)  wives  as 
well  as  mothers.  Not  only  to  know  how  it  ought  to 
be  done,  but  if  necessity  may  ever  require  it,  to  pre- 
pare with  their  own  hands  a  good  breakfast,  dinner, 
or  supper,  for  those  they  have  pledged  to  love,  to  honor, 
and  to  obey;  for  Old  Time,  in  his  record  upon  the  events 
of  life,  may  blast  the  fairest,  and  shatter  to  atoms,  smaller 
comparatively  than  grains  of  mustard  seed,  the  most 
brilliant  safety-valve  belonging  to  man's  precaution. 
Then 

What  a  woman  !    An  heavenly  mate 
To  counsel  man  in  his  reckless  career ; 
Resigned  to  every  incident  of  fate, 
Proving  him  to  her  more  dear. 

Captain  Nevelle  relinquished  the  occupancy  of  his 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEK1NGAY.  441 

tent  to  the  use  of  Laertes,  while  he  and  her  father 
took  quarters  in  the  tent  of  Lieutenant  Everett. 

The  chivalric  souls  that  were  encased  in  the  fine 
figures  of  those  then  and  there  encamped,  were  addi- 
tionally aided  by  an  anxious  desire  of  knowing  the 
mission  to  them  of  their  honored  fair  guest.  And 
while  the  brilliancy  as  sublime  display  of  the  starry 
canopy  ojf  high  heaven  at  dawn  of  day  was  yet  visible, 
Armsdale  had  risen  from  his  bunk  and  was  busily 
employed  for  the  double  purpose  of  thwarting  Miss 
Close  in  her  intentions  of  acting  "  cook  at  camp,"  and 
to  enable  her  to  receive  that  repose  to  which  the 
fatigues  of  the  preceding  day  rendered  necessary  for 
her.  Successful  in  his  design,  Armsdale  had  every- 
thing arranged,  when  Sligo  awoke  and  announced  to 
his  daughter  that  breakfast  was  ready,  and  the  Cap- 
tain and  his  men  were  then  waiting  for  her  appear- 
ance. 

"  It  is  a  happy  circumstance  with  you,"  said  Nevelle, 
smiling,  after  the  salutations  of  the  morning  had  been 
given,  and  all  at  table,  "  that  you  have  one  so  de- 
votedly your  friend,  Miss  Close,  as  to  do  duty  for  you 
in  the  neglect  of  it  on  your  part,  for,"  continued 
Nevelle,  "  under  martial  discipline  an  arrest  might 
have  been  the  result." 

"  True,  Captain,"  replied  Laertes,  as  a  blush  grew 
visible  upon  her  cheek,  "  and  for  his  gallantry  on  the 
present  occasion,  Mr.  Armsdale  will  doubtless  not 
refuse  the  reward  for,  at  some  future  and  more  happy 
day",  for  all  present." 

"You  are  kind  in  your  double  entendre  of  'for  all 
present,'  then  I  may  be  one  of  the  number  ?"  said 
Yancy. 


442  THE  flEIRESSES   OF  FOTIIEEINGAY. 

"  That,  I  grant  you,"  replied  Laertes,  "  but  for  fur- 
ther certainties,"  (looking  at  Yancy)  "  I  shall  refer  you 
to  my  sister,  Dorinda." 

In  that  zest  to  pleasantry,  having  ever  a  pure  origin 
in  the  society  of  ladies,  passed  their  breakfast  hour, 
when  soon  after  the  gentlemen  of  the  camp  were  seated, 
with  their  fair  guest  in  their  midst,  and  Laertes 
disclosed  to  Nevelle  that  with  which  she  had  been 
entrusted. 

After  an  advert  to  appearances  of  affairs  at  Fother- 
ingay, — her  having  left  her  brothers,  Washington  and 
Green  Close,  with  Mr.  Hardy,  on  the  morning  of  the 
preceding  day,  at  a  house  some  twenty  miles  from  the 
camp  of  Nevelle,  and  at  another  ford  of  the  river, 
opening  to  a  pass  in  the  mountains,  that  the  Mr.  Sheriff 
would  be  compelled  to  enter,  Laertes  holding  a  letter 
in  her  hand,  said  to  Nevelle,  "  This  will  give  you  a 
better  idea  of  how  things  are,  of  which  we  have  been 
speaking,  than  I  am  presumed  to  know." 

Upon  opening  the  letter,  Nevelle  found  it  to  be  from 
Ellen,  and  its  contents  as  follows : 

"  The  Mansion,  Slst  March,  1802. 

"DEAR  SIR: 

"  We  have  no  parallel  more  appalling  in  the  future 
of  our  love  affair  attainments  in  effecting  a  concentra- 
tion of  love  with  honor  I  these  two  with  duty,  and  the 
three  with  happiness  than  the  present  represents. 

"  Susan  and  myself  are  in  the  midst  of  alarm,  for 
the  safety  of  those  whom  you  know  are  our  intended 
liege  lords.  And  it  is  upon  the  tried  gallantry  of  him 
to  whom  I  am  now  speaking,  aided  by  his  no  less  high- 
toned  adherents,  to  the  completion  of  our  anticipated 
happiness  that  we  depend  (the  very  idea  of  which 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTIIElliX  GAT  443 

affords  consolation  in  our  troubles)  for  the  subversion 
of  the  deep-laid  as  dark  plans  of  a  villain. 

"  Be  patient  and  hear  me  out,  that  you  may  be  the 
better  able  to  devise  your  operations.  We  know  not 
what  may  be  his  object,  but  we  have  fearful  forebodings 
of  what  it  may  result  in.  It  is  an  incalculable  pleasure 
as  benefit,  to  have  servants  whose  fidelity  to  their 
owners  is  unshaken,  and  any  infringement  upon  it  is 
diametrically  in  opposition  to  honor,  good  faith,  and 
principles  of  gentlemen. 

"Three  nights  ago,  and  in  his  own  room  at  the 
Mountain  Inn,  Standly  tampered  with  the  integrity 
and  faithfulness  of  the  (true  it  is,)  black  in  color,  but 
white  souled  Sanco.  The  latter,  like  the  Athenian,  un- 
derstanding his  duty  he  practised  it.  As  on  the  next 
day  he  came  to  the  mansion  and  informed  Susan  and 
me,  that  Mr.  Standly  had  asked  him  to  procure  two 
black  quart  bottles  for  him,  saying  that  if  he  (Sanco) 
would  be  silent  upon  what  he  wished  to  tell  him,  and 
engage  his  assistance  in,  that  it  would  terminate  in 
his  liberty,  a'hd-place  him  in  a  better  condition  than 
that  he  was  then  in.  '  But  get  me,'  continued  Standly, 
'the  two  bottles,  and  fill  them  out  of  Mr.  Melvin's 
best  brandy,  and  then  I  will  tell  you  more.' 

"The  taciturn  of  Sanco,  and  his  immediate  move  to 
get  the  articles  asked  for,  impressed  Standly  with  the 
belief  that  all  was  as  he  wished  it. 

"Soon  Sanco  returned  with  the  bottles  containing 
what  had  been  desired  of  him.  But  thinking  there 
was  something  not  right  in  the  strange  deportment  of 
Standly,  had  taken  the  precaution  to  mark  on  the 
inner  edge  of  the  bottom  of  each  bottle,  and  with  one 
and  the  other  with  two  marks  imposed  by  means  of 
a  file. 


444  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEEIXGAY. 

"  In  the  presence  of  Sanco,  Standly  put  into  one  of 
the  bottles  an  ingredient,  not  known  what  to  Sanco, 
and  said  to  him  :  '  This  is  to  affect  my  purposes,  and 
in  them  to  make  you  happier  than  you  now  are.' 

"  '  I  can't  b*e  much  more  so  in  this  world,  for  I  have 
a  master  who  is  kind,  and  whom  I  serve  cheerfully, 
sir,'  as  in  taking  hold  indifferently  of  each  bottle  in 
his  hands,  and  during  his  reply  to  Standly,  Sanco 
caught  sight  of  the  mark  of  the  bottle  in  which  the 
fatal  dose  was  placed. 

"True  to  them  he  respected,  Sanco  purloined  the 
bottle  and  brought  it  to  us,  with  the  information 
herein  given  you,  and  then  returned  it  unperceived 
by  Standly. 

"  With  the  hope  through  your  agency  of  defeating 
the  fiend-like  designs  of  Standly,  we  have  filled  and 
sent  by  Mr.  Hardy  to  you  «a  bottle  of  brandy,  marked 
with  a  fac-simile  of  the  'fatal  insignia  of  death,  in 
Standly  's,  design,  'No.  2,'  upon  the  cork,  that  you 
may  if  possible,  be  fortunate  in  placing  our  bottle  and 
that  by  a  disguised  interview  witk  €>ta*hdly  immedi- 
ately after  he  shall  have  joined  the  Mr.  Sheriff  and 
his  party  —  as  to  have  revenge  intended,  fall  upon  him 
who  merits  it,  thereby  saving  the  innocent. 

"  Standly  left  the  '  Mountain  Inn'  th'is  morning,  and 
Mr.  Hardy  accompanied  by  George  Washington  and 
Green  Close,  with  their  esteemed  .sister  the  good 
Laertes,  follow  with  the  intention  of  watching  his 
movements  and  of  going  to  your  camp.  . 

"  Believe  me,  as  I  have  e,yer  been  ve*y  sincerely, 

i'*t»~,^«_  —  . 

t-.mend, 


"  Captain  Henry  Nevelle,- 

"  Camp,  near  Broadfbrd,  Roanoke  Eiver." 

" 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  445 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Nevelle,  folding  the  letter,  which 
he  had  read  in  the  presence  of  his  company,  "this 
is  a  striking  instance  of  the  atrocity  but  too  often 
found  in  the  hearts  of  the  first  order  of  the  works  of 
Divine  Providence,  the  creature  man !  Standly  is  but 
a  creature  without  a  soul,  or  if  he  has  one,  it  must  be 
of  that  order  that  its  Maker  refuses  to  own,  and  that 
his  Satanic  Majesty  of  the  regions  of  despair  is  proud 
of,  as  an  auxiliary  to  his  plans  upon  earth.  We 
must,"  continued  Nevelle,  "  defeat  Standly  in  his  pur- 
poses, and  with  this  view  all  must  be  on  the  alert  from 
the  present  hour,  how  best,  and  how  most  effectually 
to  do  so." 

Nevelle  lost  no  time  after  reading  and  making  his 
remarks,  upon  the  subject  of  Ellen's  letter,  and  imme- 
diately went  about  forming  and  arranging  his  plans 
and  issuing  his  orders  upon  them. 

It  may  be  remembered  by  my  readers,  that  no  inti- 
macy whatever,  nor  even  an  acquaintance  with,  had 
existed  between  Standly  and  they  of  Nevelle  and  his 
party.  They  had  been  seen  by  him  twice  only,  and 
that  for  a  short, time,  the  morning  of  the  deer  hunt, 
aad  at  night  of  the  same  day  at  the  "  Mountain  Inn." 
And  so  particularly  obnoxious  had  some  of  the  re- 
marks and  actions  of  Standly  become  to  Nevelle,  that 
in  one  of  the  subsequent  interviews  had  with  the  ladies, 
he  was  heard  to  say : — 

"  There  is  more  danger  to  be  apprehended  from  the 
treble  face  of  Standly  than  is  now  supposed,  and  so 
far  as  mine  and  the  acts  of  the  gentlemen  concerned 
with  me  for  the  accomplishment  in  your  own  way  of 
your  love  affairs,  are  with  us,  ladies,  Mr.  Standly  to 


446  THE   IIEIEESSES   OF   FOTHBBINGAY. 

me  and  my  command,  must  remain  as  he  is — a 
stranger." 

The  recollection  of  the  position  occupied  toward 
him,  and  the  additional  contempt  with  which  the  in- 
telligence received  of  Standly's  villany  had  inspired 
Nevelle,  acted  like  electricity  in  the  minds  of  him  and 
his  party;  and  ordering  Clermont  and  Irwin  to  attend 
him,  Nevelle  set  out  that  morning  for  the  station  occu- 
pied by  Hardy  and  the  two  young  Closes. 

Just  after  leaving  camp,  Nevelle  said  to  Everett: 
— "  Lieutenant  much  remains  for  us  yet  to  perform, 
and  to  effect  our  purpose  of  safety  to  Mr.  Laurence 
and  Mr.  Hyne,  requires  an  energy  of  mind  and  body 
in  all  I  leave  under  your  command.  In  that  particular, 
each  one  will  doubtless  contribute  his  aid.  Let  the 
bluffs  overlooking  the  first  crossing  of  the  river — the 
cabin  there  and  its  inmates  be  strictly  taken  notice  of, 
and  above  all  effect  a  disguised  interview  with  the 
prisoners — place  them  on  their  guard  relative  to  the 
fatal  bottle,  while  I  go  to  seek  and  obtain  a  stranger's 
interview  with  Standly,  and  an  exchange  of  his  weapon 
of  death  from  its  intended  use  upon  the  innocent,  to  a 
desired  effect,  and  with  it  upon  him  who  merits  it.  If 
it  should  be  possibly  practicable,  order  some  one  of 
your  command  to  an  attempted  secret  interview  with 
the  prisoners  at  the  cabin,  informing  them  not  of  me 
as  a  leader  of  bandits,  but  to  them  an  unknown  friend, 
being  engaged  for  their  rescue  and  safety — and  what 
I  have  gone  to  do.  Look  for  me  when  you  see  me ; 
I  can  give  you  no  better  calculation  at  present  of  my 
return."  Thus  saying,  -Nevelle  and  his  two  attendants 
mounted  their  horses  and  were  soon  lost  to  the  view 
of  Everett  and  the  remaining  party. 


THE   IIEIKESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  447 

In  the  absence  of  his  commander,  Everett  \vas  in- 
tent upon  the  duties  assigned  him,  and  during  that 
day  had  so  divided  his  detachment  as  to  have  the 
heights  properly  sentinelled,  and  the  movements  at 
the  cabin  so  watched,  as  to  see  plainly  every  move- 
ment of  those  who  were  there,  and  those  about  it. 

The  Mr.  Sheriff  was  not  of  that  calibre  of  brain  who 
thought  like  many  do  in  the  office  he  held,  and  others 
in  public  trust,  that  the  responsible  dignity  attached 
thereto  forbids  the  extension  of  kindness  to  those 
whom  misfortune,  not  base  crime  and  blackened  vil- 
lany,  have  placed  in  their  power-.  Hence  their  word 
that  they  would  not  attempt  to  escape  from  him,  had 
gained  for  the  prisoners  the  Mr.  Sheriff's  favor,  so  far 
as  to  let  them  occupy,  while  at  the  cabin,  a  separate 
apartment,  and  permission  to  take  walks  alone  in  its 
vicinity.  While  for  the  better  purpose  of  avoiding 
escape,  their  horses  were  kept  under  lock  and  key. 

It  was  in  one  of  their  walks,  and  at  the  foot  of  the 
cliffs  that  bounded  the  shore  of  the  river,  and  the  day 
after  Everett  had  manned  the  bluffs,  that  our  prison- 
ers discovered,  seated  upon  a  projecting  ledge  of 
rocks,  far  above  the  surface  of  the  stream,  a  lady,  from 
every  appearance  anxiously  watching  their  move- 
ments. Not  far  from  where  she  sat,  stood  a  tall  and 
well-formed  man,  costumed  in  an  attire,  in  the  day  of 
which  we  are  speaking,  that  would  now  be  called  a 
backwoodsman's  dress.  There,  his  rifle  placed  upon 
a  rock,  and  the  barrel  of  his  gun  erect,  he  rested  upon 
its  muzzle  in  a  thoughtful  position. 

"  Do  you  see  that  sight,  Sam  ?"  said  Laurence. 

"  I  do,  and  have  been  looking  at  it  for  some  time," 
replied  Ilyne 


448  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

Hyne  had  scarcely  made  a  reply  before  a  beckoning 
sign  was  discovered  emanating  from  the  lady. 

Too  high  to  be  heard  by  those  below  her,  and  they 
too  low  to  be  heard  by  her,  the  lady  continued  mak- 
ing signals  till  our  prisoners  had  come  in  a  direct  line 
below  the  rock  she  was  yet  upon.  When  there,  and 
in  a  few  moments  after,  they  discovered,  dropped  from 
her  hand,  a  stone  of  some  length  and  about  two  inches 
in  thickness,  enclosed  in  a  piece  of  white  linen  rag. 
Attentively  watching  its  fall,  it  was  soon  picked  up, 
and  opening  the  rag,  to  the  stone  intended  to  guide 
its  direct  descent,  was  tied  a  small  piece  of  paper  upon 
which  was  written,  in  pencil  mark,  the  following 
sentence : 

"  Your  lives  are  sought  for,  and  you  are  in  much 
danger.  Fear  not,  for  she  who  writes  and  has  dropped 
you  this  from  these  heights  is,  with  others,  your  devoted 
friends.  To-morrow,  and  at  the  same  hour  you  have 
done  to-day,  come  to  where  you  now  are,  where  you 
will  see  me,  and  being  told  more,  will  be  properly  in- 
structed of  how  to  act  under  it." 

Having  waited  till  her  note  had  been  read  and  the 
signal  given  her  that  it  was  understood,  the  lady  and 
the  man  seen  upon  the  cliff  disappeared,  and  our  pri- 
soners returned  to  the  cabin  with  a  new  series  of 
thoughts  to  those  yet  experienced. 

The  intricate  route  of  the  mountains,  and  their  near- 
est passes,  were  all  familiar  to,  and  well  understood  by 
Nevelle ;  and  in  his  anxious  desire  for  the  safety  of 
those  who  were  dear  to  others,  he  lost  no  time  in 
acquiring  an  interview  with  Hardy. 

At  night-fall  of  the  second  day  after  leaving  Eve- 
rett, Nevelle  arrived  within  view  of  a  house  at  which 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF    KOTHERINGAY.  449 

Standly  had  stopped  for  the  night,  but  being  uncertain 
as  to  Hardy's  location,  held  a  council.  While  delibe- 
rating upon  what  thought  best,  the  sound  of  horse- 
tramps  were  heard,  and,  from  their  increase,  evidently 
approaching  the  spot  occupied  by  Nevelle ;  when,  in 
a  few  moments  after,  and  to  his  surprise  as  gratifica- 
tion, Hardy  was  by  the  side  of  his  commander.  "All 
is  right,  Captain,"  said  Hardy,  "  now  that  I  have,  after 
a  reconnoitre  of  Standly's  position,  found  me.  Me 
and  my  party  have  travelled  with  him  during  the  day, 
and  are,  in  every  way,  on  social  terms  with  him,  as 
fellow  travellers,  at  (pointing  as  he  spoke)  yonder 
house,  and  he  not  knowing  who  we  are.  It  is  said," 
continued  Hardy,  "  that  a  bare  missing  of  danger  is 
equally  good  to  a  mile  distant.  I  had,  in  anticipation 
of  your  arrival  here  to  night,  told  him  that  we  would 
be  obliged,  as  travellers  in  another  direction,  to  forego 
his  company  and  society  to-morrow.  We  shall  do  so 
now  without  fear  of  that  loss,  as  you  are  here  to  pre- 
vent it." 

Here  Hardy  informed  Nevelle  that,  by  the  use 
they  had  put  a  quart  of  the  "  spirits  of  Fotherin- 
gay"  cellars  to,  that  evening,  that  Standly,  from  the 
use  of  a  little  more,  would  be  easily  made  a  bacchanal 
of,  for  a  period  long  enough  to  answer  speedy  as  fur- 
ther purposes.  In  a  few  minutes,  six  of  the  intimates 
in  the  service  of  the  ladies  at  Fotheringay  were  in  the 
house,  and  the  addition  of  the  latter  three  to  the  notice 
and  social  intimacy  of  Standly,  gave  to  Nevelle  a  clue 
to  further  operations.  In  a  little  time,  Hardy's  pre- 
dictions were  realized.  Standly  was  put  to  bed,  and 
soon,  under  the  influence  of  liquor  upon  an  intoxi- 
cated remnant  of  sense  was  in  a  sleep,  aided  by  stu- 

29 


450  THE   HEIEESSES   OF   FOTHEPJNGAY. 

por — rendered  alike  indifferent  to  things  around  him, 
as  things  passing  were  indifferent  to  him. 

The  present  time  alone  was  his,  and  Nevelle,  with  as 
much  dispatch  as  precautions  exactness,  placed  the  bot- 
tle marked  and  sent  him  by  the  ladies,  in  the  stead  of 
the  one  marked  by  Standly ;  and  drawing  and  burning 
the  cork  of  the  fatal  bottle,  placed  a  plain,  unmarked 
one  in  it,  having  all  so  neatly  arranged  as  to  have  been 
above  suspicion,  let  alone  detection.  His  plan  thus 
arranged,  Nevelle  replaced  everything  after  the  order 
found  in  the  saddle-bags  of  Standly,  and  the  next 
morning,  after  taking  their  breakfast  together,  Nevelle 
and  his  men,  taking  an  opposite  course  to  that  intended 
by  Standly,  soon  left  him  in  the  enjoyment  of  what- 
ever of  happy  reflection,  upon  the  furtherance  of  his 
plans,  that  might  possibly  be  his ;  while  Nevelle  and 
his  party  hastened,  with  all  practicable  speed,  to  rejoin 
Everett,  and  to  learn  what  had  been  done,  and  what 
more  was  then  going  on  there. 

Punctual  in  the  performance  of  instructions  given 
them  by  the  lady  seen  upon  the  cliff,  our  prisoners 
repaired  at  the  hour  appointed  to  the  spot  designated. 
There  suspended  between  the  rapid  succession  of 
thought  upon  fear  and  hope,  they  were  as  statues,  to 
be  looked  upon,  but  not  to  look  at  or  think  of  any 
other  object  than  the  rock  high  above  them,  on  which 
had  stood,  the  day  before,  the  pantomimic  fair  one, 
offering  her  service  in  the  protection  and  defence  of 
them  in  their  hours  of  danger. 

"  Hope  is  often  the  fondly  cherished  representative 
of  delusion  ;  and  when  most  entertained,  is  the  idoled 
insignia  of  destruction,"  exclaimed  Laurence,  as,  after 
some  time  spent  in  intent  gaze  upon  the  cliff,  he  said, 


THE   HEIKESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  451 

"  Let  us  go,  Sam,  and  resign  ourselves  to  the  fate, 
whatever  it  may  be,  that  awaits  us." 

At  that  moment,  the  lady  of  the  day  before  of  the 
cliff,  but  now  of  the  river  shore  they  occupied,  being 
within  speaking  distance,  though  unseen  by  either,  and 
hearing  the  latter  part  of  Laurence's  expression,  said, 
"  Not  yet !  but  behold  in  me  your  friend  and  de- 
liverer!" 

After  a  tender  of  that  sort  of  expression  of  grati- 
tude which  they  were  accustomed,  as  well  from 
polished  minds  as  correct  principles,  emanating  from 
the  prisoners,  the  lady  continued:  "I  have,  gentle- 
men, but  little  time  to  spend  with  you,  and  that  little 
intended  exclusively  for  your  benefits.  I  require  to 
be  met  with  by  an  attentive  ear,  silent  tongue,  and 
strict  compliance  on  your  parts,  upon  what  you  shall 
hear,  and  be  required  to  perform." 

Here  the  lady  adverted  to  the  designs  and  inten- 
tions of  Standly,  all  of  which  is  before  our  readers ; 
and  after  having  informed  them  of  what  they  had  to 
do,  and  as  she  was  about  leaving  the  prisoners,  Hyne, 
addressing  her,  said :  "  Lady,  such  Kindness  from 
your  sex,  we  have  for  some  time  been  strangers  to. 
Allow  us  to  ask  you  your  name  and  place  of  residence, 
so  that,  if  that  time  is  ever  ours,  we  may  attempt  a 
reciprocal  return  of  such  disinterested  friendship  as 
that  you  entertain  for  those  before  you  in  the  pending 
storm  now  awaiting  us." 

"  With  regard  to  my  name  and  place  of  residence," 
replied  the. lady,  "the  future  may  develop  both.  Jf 
so,  it  will  be  at  a  time  when  I  and  him  you  see  yonder, 
my  present  attendant,"  (pointing  to  the  man  seen  on 
the  cliff,)  "  will  be  introduced  to  your  acquaintance  by 


452  THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY. 

those  you  love,  and  whom  I  know  will  love  you. 
Adieu,  for  the  present,"  continued  the  lady  ;  when  in 
the  next  few  moments  she  joined  her  attendant,  and 
both  disappeared  among  the  cedars  that  stood  in 
dense  crowds  at  the  foot  of  the  river  bluff's. 

Nevelle's  return  to  his  camp,  where  his  entire  com- 
mand was  assembled,  was  hailed  by  them  with  that 
sort  of  confidence  and  high  regard  incident  to  the 
object  held  in  view;  and  the  good  Laertes,  after  giv- 
ing him  an  account  of  her  interview,  and  performance 
of  what  Everett  had  entrusted  to  her  care  and  man- 
agement with  the  prisoners,  left  camp  the  next  morn- 
ing, accompanied  by  her  father,  for  Fotheringay, 
where  we  also  ask  permission  of  our  readers  to  go — 
leaving  Nevelle  and  his  party  watching  the  move- 
ments of  Standly,  and  ourselves  to  recite  matters  and 
things  as  they  passed  elsewhere. 


CHAPTER   XLIY. 

One  true  and  well-tried  friend  is  worth  a  dozen  of  tbe  miscreant  order 
of  such— because  the  cement  that  binds  true  friends  is  like  that  of  the 
order  of  Nature,  under  the  government  of  the  Most  High,  always  the 
same. 

STANDLY  was  ignorant  of  who  they  were ;  he  knew, 
however,  that  three  gentlemen  had  arrived  at  the 
mansion  the  night  previous  to  his  departure  from  the 
"  Mountain  Inn,"  which  he  left  early  on  the  following 
morning,  with  a  view  of  effecting  the  purposes  already 
known  to  our  readers. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  453 

Another  meeting  of  long-separated,  yet  long-known 
and  well-tried  friends,  was  being  had.  It  was  night, 
and  the  calm  of  Nature's  repose  had  begun  its  gradual 
as  silent  persuasions  to  rest,  when  the  attention  of  the 
porter  was  drawn  to  the  appearance  of  horsemen,  as 
by  the  aid  of  the  queen  of  night,  they  approached 
the  gateway  leading  to  the  mansion. 

As  the  gentlemen  were  dismounting,  the  porter  was 
at  his  post,  and  recognising  him,  the  servant  said  : — 
"  Ah,  Master  Miller,  I  have  many  times  had  the  honor 
of  opening  these  gates  for  you,  and  at  no  one  of  them 
have  I  felt  more  pleasure  than  the  present  one  gives 
me." 

"Why  so,  Will?"  replied  Miller. 

"  Because,  master,  we  have  all  been  in  great  doubt 

with  regard  to  the  safety  of  — • .  Excuse  me, 

master,"  (suddenly  recollecting  himself,  and  putting 
his  forefinger  perpendicularly  across  his  lips)  ;  "  I  am 
so  glad  to  see  you,  that  I  had  forgotten  the  order, 
continued  Will." 

"  What  you  have  said  and  intended  for  me,  the  sig- 
nal is  not  now  necessary  to,  for  you  are  not  among 
strangers,  but  those  who  know  everything  of  what 
you  perhaps  was  about  to  tell  me,"  replied  Miller. 

By  that  time  grooms  were  in  attendance — the  gen- 
tlemen's baggage  and  horses  were  taken,  when  they, 
conducted  by  the  porter,  were  soon  at  the  door  of  the 
mansion.  A  slight  rap  of  the  knocker  soon  brought 
Sanco  into  their  presence,  when  another  expression  of 
pleasure  at  the  return  of  Miller  being  given,  the  gen- 
tlemen were  ushered  to  the  Fotheringay  parlors. 

Being  then  at  a  late  hour,  and  informed  that  Col. 
Leftridge  and  the  family  had  retired,  and  refusing  to 


454  THE   HEIRESSES  OF  FOTHERINGAY. 

let  his  return  be  then  known  to  them,  Miller  requested 
Sanco  to  conduct  him  and  the  other  two  gentlemen  to 
a  bed  room.  His  request  being  immediately  complied 
with,  the  gentlemen  were  soon  at  rest  in  one  of  the 
rooms  adjoining  the  library  apartment. 

"  Sanco,"  said  Miller,  as  the  servant  was  about  leav- 
ing them,  "  be  silent  with  regard  to  these  gentlemen 
and  me  being  here,  till  I  shall  instruct  you  to  an- 
nounce it  to  the  colonel  in  the  morning." 

At  dawn  of  the  following  day,  Sanco  had  entered 
the  apartment  occupied  by  Miller  and  the  strangers, 
and  after  having  made  a  comfortable  fire,  was  busily 
employed  in  the  body-servant's  duties,  with  which, 
from  his  raising  and  long  practice,  he  was  well  con- 
versant. 

An  half  hour  before  breakfast,  and  just  before  the 
family  entered  the  dining-room,  Sanco  again  entered 
the  apartment  of  the  strangers,  and  after  having  con- 
ducted the  gentlemen  to  the  parlor,  Miller  instructed 
Sanco  to  go  and  say  to  his  master,  "  That  three  gen- 
tlemen were  in  the  parlor  wishing  to  see  him." 

Sanco,  fearful  that  his  master  might  ask,  "  Who  the 
gentlemen  were?"  and  being  instructed  by  Miller  to 
silence,  delivered  his  message  to  Sally,  just  then  enter- 
ing the  bed-room  of  her  mistress. 

Second  handed  the  message  was  delivered,  and  in  a 
short  time  after,  our  three  friends  of  the  memorable 
days  of  '76,  when  the  souls  of  men  were  well  tried, 
and  friendship  rendered  pure  in  the  several  crucibles 
incident  to  and  connected  with  the  American  revolu- 
tion, were  together,  a  fourth  was  also  present  at  that 
meeting  the  poor  attorney.  But  the  fifth  one,  With- 
row,  alas !  was  no  more — he  was  gone,  yet  his  four 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF  FOTHERINGAY.  455 

friends  were  now  at  the  spot  where  he  had  breathed 
his  last,  and  had  bid  a  final  adieu  to  earthly  affairs. 

"  Farewell,  thou  well-known  one, 

Thy  toils  of  time  are  o'er ; 
Virtue  has  given  another  sun, 
And  life  for  ever  more." 

After  that  sort  of  agreeable  surprise  which  a  separa- 
tion of  nearly  twenty  years  produces  in  the  bosoms  of 
well-known  and  tried  friends  at  their  meeting  again, 
had  settled  down  upon  a  conviction  as  personal  reality, 
Colonel  Leftridge  asked  an  excuse  for  a  temporary 
absence,  and  left  the  parlor.  In  a  few  moments,  re- 
entering,  he  was  discovered  advancing  arm-in-arm 
with  Madam  Leftridge — Antoinette  having  hold  of 
her  mother's,  and  Leontine  the  arm  of  her  uncle. 
Next  followed  Dierdoffe,  his  lady,  and  the  two  Misses 
Thurmund,  in  like  manner  followed  by  Thomas  and 
Edmund  Miller.  Here,  and  after  coming -into  a  direct 
line  fronting  his  guests,  the  Colonel  introduced  them 
severally  to  his  friends  from  New  York.  Immediately 
after  which  the  "old  school"  gallantry  of  76  being 
reacted  in  the  persons  of  Major  Laurence  and  Ser- 
geant Hyne — each  offered  his  arm  to  his  intended 
daughter-in-law — and  our  Attorney  following  the  ex- 
ample just  shown,  offered  his  arm  to  the  Misses  Thur- 
mund, and  as  he  did  so,  they  accepting,  he  said  to  his 
sons,  "  Gentlemen,  it  is  mine  now,  and  will  your  times 
by-and-by."  In  that  order,  the  young  men  following, 
they  all  entered  the  dining-room,  where  breakfast  was 
waiting,  and  where  Leftridge  introduced  his  friends  to 
the  grandmother  of  Leontine. 

The  sombre  that  had  for  some  time  pervaded  the 


456  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

countenance  of  Antoinette  and  Leontine,  and  thus  had 
become  much  increased  by  the  recent  deportment  of 
Standly,  was  strongly  evident,  and  too  much  so,  to 
escape  the  notice  of  those  who  had  just  arrived  at  the 
mansion. 

On  the  day  after  their  arrival,  and  on  an  occasion 
when  again  the  entire  of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen 
spoken  of  as  being  at  breakfast  the  morning  before, 
were  present,  Major  Laurence,  addressing  Antoinette 
and  Leontine,  said : 

"  Your  new  plan  of  winning  lovers  has  been  too 
successful  thus  far  to  fail  in  the  completion  of  it, — and 
the  gentlemen  you  yesterday  spoke  of  as  being  in  your 
service,  are,  like  their  fair  commanders,  too  pure  at 
heart,  and  too  much  of  adepts  at  gallantry,  to  suffer 
the  scheme  entrusted  to  their  management  as  execu- 
tion to  be  reported  incomplete  with  every  desired 
success.  It  betrays  bad  generalship  in  a  commander 
to  appear  sad,  even  amid  danger ;  for,  if  so  those  who 
are  under  command  become  timid,  and  destruction  too 
often  follows.  Be  cheerful,"  continued  the  Major,  "  for 
it  cannot  now  be  long  before  you  are.  invested  with 
supreme  command  in  another  more  pleasant  sphere. 
To  prove  to  you  the  certainty  of  my  convictions  that 
the  command  under  your  orders  will  conquer  in  order 
to  save,  and  to  render  you  and  those  for  whose  safety 
you  are  concerned  happy,"  continued  Major  Laurence, 
"Mr.  Hyne  and  myself  have  brought  for  each  of  you 
a  bridal  present,  emblematic  of  the  high  regard  we 
entertain  for  you,  and  happiness  we  anticipate  in  the 
society  of  our  daughters-in-law,  and  which  we  hope 
will  be  accepted." 

Here  the  gentlemen  took  from  their  pockets,  each  a 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  457 

casket  containing  a  rich  set  of  diamond  and  pearl  with 
other  ornaments  incident  and  adapted  to  that  period 
in  life  when  both  sexes  like  to  appear  most  attractive ; 
and  presenting  them,  that  talisman  of  woman's  greatest 
ornament,  virtue,  announced  their  silent  acceptance. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  Antoinette,  after  those  present 
had  looked  at  the  gifts,  "  I  on  mine  and  that  of  the 
part  of  Leontine,  thank  you  for  the  honor  conferred; 
and  for  yours  and  the  sakes  of  those  yet  absent,  will 
try  to  be  what  you  desire — cheerful." 

In  a  moment  after,  cheerfulness  seemed  to  have 
taken  tfce  place  of  despondency,  and  buoyancy  depicted 
upon  the  countenances  of  all,  the  morning  passed 
socially  and  pleasantly  away.  Nor  were  the  persons 
then  present  all  who  contributed  to  the  pleasures  of 
that  morning  ; — for  while  our  addition  to  the  family 
circle  of  Fotheringay  were  with  its  head  passing  from 
one  to  another  talkative  as  mental  review  of  events  of 
their  youth,  listened  to  by  those  present,  the  arrival 
of  Laertes  and  her  father  was  announced. 

The  former  recited  the  part  she  had  performed, 
which  our  readers  are  already  in  possession  of — and  in 
a  few  moments  after  the  ladies  withdrew  from  the 
parlor,  leaving  the  remainder  of  the  company  listening 
to  the  description  of  Close  upon  recent  events,  all  of 
which  our  readers  are  aware  of. 

Things  had  passed  for  several  days  in  their  usual 
routine  of  pleasure  at  the  mansion,  characteristic  of 
those  ever  felt  and  experienced  among  the  Virginians, 
when  one  evening  while  the  ladies  were  adding  charms 
of  music  to  suavity,  a  rap  was  heard  at  the  hall  door. 
A  servant  soon  attended  to  the  alarm,  and  in  a  few 
moments  after,  Yancy  made  his  appearance  in  the 


458  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

parlor.  The  etiquette  of  an  introduction  to  him  of  the 
strangers  being  passed,  he  had  scarcely  taken  a  chair, 
before  the  remark  emanating  from  Leontine  was  heard 
of  "  We  know,  Mr.  Yancy,  that  you  are  from  the  camp 
of  Captain  ISTevelle,  say  what  thou  wilt — but  in  doing 
so — say  not  that  the  prisoners  are  no  more  ?" 

Yancy,  very  gentlemanly  replying,  said,  "Were 
your  fears  realized,  lady,  I  should  be  the  last  to  appear 
before  you,  so  soon  after  its  occurrence.  But  as  it  is, 
fear  not,  and  read  this  letter  (presenting  it  as  he  spoke) 
which  I  have  the  honor  of  being  the  bearer  of,  to  you 
and  Miss  Antoinette." 

The  magnetic  caloric  of  love  with  all  its  impetus  of 
anxious  desire,  was  manifest  in  the  appearance  of 
Antoinette  and  Leontine,  while  the  seal  of  that  letter 
was  being  broken,  under  which  was  contained,  the 
the  following  intelligence. 

"  Camp  near  Broadford,  Roanoke  River,  \ 
April  I0th,  1802.  f 

"LADIES, — Your  esteemed  favor  of  the  31st  last 
month  was  received  by  the  hand  of  that  one  among  the 
excellent  of  your  six,  Miss  Laertes  Close ;  who,  I  ask  per- 
mission here  to  say,  has  been  in  the  part  she  performed 
of  it,  an  eminent  auxilliary  to  the  accomplishment  of 
the  plan  in  view.  This  shall  be  the  last  letter  to  you, 
upon  a  subject  giving  doubtless  much  uneasiness  of 
mind,  and  which  (excuse  me)  eccentric  as  your  love 
affairs  are,  with  those  for  whose  safety  you  have  now 
great  concern,  is  to  say,  that  all,  thus  far,  is  as  you 
desire  it  to  be. 

"I  was  present,  and  known  by  none,  when  the 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  459 

meeting  of  Standly  with  the  Mr.  Sheriff  and  his  party 
took  place,  and  which  occurred  at  the  cabin  at  the 
crossings  two  days  ago.  Standly  presented  his  forged 
quietus,  and  is  thus  far,  as  he  supposes,  in  the  leisurely 
accomplishment  of  his  plan  of  death.  But  his  enjoy- 
ments are  temporary,  and  he  soon  will  become  a  victim 
to  his  own  designs. 

"  I  saw  the  (by  him  supposed)  fatal  bottle,  and  that 
at  a  time  Standly  offered  it  to  one,  and  which  was 
accepted  of,  by  the  prisoners,  when  Standly  observed 
to  them :  '  You  keeping  yours  and  I  mine  of  our  bitter 
bottles,  is  often  the  manner  we  drank  on  our  first 
route  to  Fotheringay,  where  we  will  soon  again  meet 
those  who  have  forgiven  you  your  offences,  and  where 
you  will  soon  be  made  happy  in  the  possession  of 
your  long  loved  ones.' 

"  I  could  scarcely  keep  my  tongue  quietly  within 
my  teeth,  nor  yet  command  my  apparent  ignorance 
of  Standly  and  his  object,  on  hearing  a  declaration  of 
such  cool  as  plausible  motives  to  esteem  proceeding 
from  so  base  a  source,  for  which,  I  am  resolved,  the 
proper  one  shall  pay.  -*.v 

"  Ere  you  receive  this,  Standly  and  the  gentlemen 
will  be  on  their  wa'y  to  Fotheringay,  where  he  pur- 
poses they  never  shall  return  to  alive ;  but  I  and  my 
party,  with  the  exception  of  Yancy,  (who  I  have 
ordered  to  rejoin  us,)  are  here.  And  watching  our 
time  to  capture  the  young  gentlemen,  will,  I  expect, 
have  lodged  them  in  the  Cavern  before  you  hear  from 
me  again. 

"With  that  respect,  which  has  ever  marked  my 
deportment  towards  you,  and  the  zeal  I  entertain  for 


460  THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHERINGAY. 

your  happiness,  I  am  with  all  of  it,  very  respectfully 
your  friend, 

"  And  obedient  servant, 

"  HENRY  NEVELLE.'' 

"  To    Misses    Antoinette    Leftridge    and    Leontine 
Withrow,  Fotheringay." 

Yancy  availed  himself  of  the  order  of  absence  from 
camp  on  detailed  duty,  as  the  bearer  of  the  letter  just 
read,  on  the  following  morning  making  a  visit  to  his 
intended  Torinda,  and  continuing  at  her  father's  till 
the  morning  after,  set  out  upon  his  return  to  the  camp 
of  his  commander.  Yancy's  arrival  and  report  to 
create  a  new  impetus  to  vigilance  in  the  mind  of 
Neville,  and  to  avert  as  soon  as  possible  the  variety 
of  suspense  then  in  the  minds  of  the  ladies  at  Fother- 
ingay, he  proceeded  to  such  measures  as  would  most 
effectually  as  pleasantly  possess  both,  (for  whose 
happiness  he  was  sincerely  interested,)  of  that  they 
most  desired.  Need  we  say  what  that  was  ?  No,  for 
you  know  it  already,  gentle  reader.  In  possession  of 
that  sort  of  intellect  which  at  once  encompasses 
design,  and  at  a  glance  sees  and  knows  the  different 
effects  the  same  causes  have  upon  different  objects. 
Nevelle,  the  morning  after  the  return  of  Yancy  to 
camp,  divided  his  command  into  detachments  of  two, 
ordering  them  to  proceed  in  disguise,  and  each  de- 
tachment to  be  nightly  in  separate  divisions  at  three 
several  houses  among  the  mountains  that  Standly 
and  the  two  young  gentlemen  would  necessarily  have 
to  stop  at,  in  their  now  three  days  journey  to  the 
"  Mountain  Inn;"  while  he  in  person,  would  go  to  the 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  461 

last  house,  and  that  within  a  few  miles  of  the  resi- 
dence of  Close.  Where,  after  they  should  have  per- 
formed their  respective  watch  tours,  his  men  were  to 
join  him  at  an  encampment  not  far  distant  from  the 
last  house,  and  all  to  be  there  with  him  on  the 
evening  of  the  third  day. 

Everett  and  Hardy  were  to  take  the  first  watch 
tour,  and  at -that  house,  the  first  one  after  Standly  and 
his  intended  stepping-stone  to  prize,  would  have  the 
cabin  at  the  crossings,  were  to  so  manage  as  to  draw 
the  loads  from  the  pistols  belonging  to  Standly  and 
the  gentlemen. 

Thus  arranged,  each  respective  party  repaired,  with 
as  little  delay  as  possible,  to  the  different  houses 
assigned  them ;  when  Nevelle,  proceeding  in  a  more 
direct  course  through  the  mountains,  was  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Close  in  the  early  part  of  the  day  fixed  upon 
for  rendezvous. 

Close  and  his  family  received  and  entertained 
Nevelle  with  all  that  respect  and  esteem  which  his 
manly  and  honorable  deportment  had  so  justly  awarded 
him ;  and  while  that  day  passed  pleasantly  away  with 
him  and  them,  at  the  dinner  table,  among  other 
remarks  that  had  passed  there,  Nevelle  addressing 
Dorinda  and  Laertes,  said  : 

"  Well  ladies,  when  will  your  imitation  of  the 
ancient  Adonis  take  place  ?  for  your  intended  will 
soon  be  here." 

"  We  will,  when  our  intended  say  so,  celebrate  the 
vow  of  love  in  marriage,  in  honor  of  them  alone, 
looking  up  to  them  as  they  to  us — modern  Adonises" 
replied  Laertes. 


462  THE    HEIRESSES   OF    FOTHEKINGAY. 

"  The  version  given  by  my  sister,  Captain,  is  the 
exact  language  of  my  heart,"  said  Dorinda. 

" That  is  right,"  replied •  JSTevelle,  "I  like  to  hear 
such  declarations  from  intended  brides,  and  hope 
those  you  have  made  choice  of  may  live  long  with 
you  to  see  it  put  into  practice." 

As  soon  as  he  had  dined,  Nevelle  repaired  to  the 
place  of  rendezvous,  where,  in  a  short  time  after  his 
arrival,  he  was  joined  by  Everett,  Hardy,  Clermont 
and  Irwin,  having  served  their  tours  at  the  first  two 
houses  in  Standly's  route.  And  by  the  time  their 
supper  was  prepared  by  one  of  the  party,  the  approach 
to  camp  of  Armsdale  and  Yancey  was  discovered. 

Commencing  with  Everett  and  Hardy,  Nevelle  lis- 
tened to  the  several  detachments,  from  all  of  whom 
he  learned  of  the  gradually  sickened  and  weakened 
condition  of  Standly. 

At  that  camp  and  the  last  one  in  which  assembled 
and  protecting  the  persons  and  lives  of  they  who  were 
dear  to  others,  though  dealt  with  in  modes  of  more 
severity  than  our  fair  readers  would  do  in  the  present 
day,  in  affairs  of  courtship  and  intended  marriage, 
Nevelle  ordered  Everett  and  Hardy  to  be  at  the  house 
last  in  the  route  of  Standly,  and  there  to  report  them- 
selves the  officers  properly  authorized  to  arrest  and 
take  into  custody  our  continued  fugitives — and  to 
arrest  Standly  for  a  fraud  practised  upon  the  credulity 
of  the  Mr.  Sheriff  of  the  county  from  whence  the 
prisoners  had  recently  been  brought. 

The  necessarily,  and  last  forged  document  to  that 
effect  being  placed  in  the  hands  of  Everett.  Hardy 
and  him,  accompanied  by  Armsdale  and  Yancy,  were 
at  nightfall,  at  their  post ;  while  Nevelle  and  the 


TUB   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEUINGAY.  463 

balance  of  his  command  remained  at  a  short  distance 
from  the  house,  for  the  purpose,  as  soon  as  the  arrest 
was  made,  of  taking  the  prisoners  to  their  final  desti- 
nation, the  Cavern. 

Dark  arrived,  and  with  it  our  young  men  and  their 
sick  companion.  And  after  an  early  supper,  of  which 
the  gentlemen,-but  not  Standly,  partook  heartily,  our 
officers  in  their  new  sphere  as  Sheriff,  and  his  Deputy 
of  the  county,  made  the  arrest  of  two,  but  not  the 
third  offender,  as  ordered.  For  he  had  been  already 
arrested  in  his  career  by  another  higher  Power,  and 
was  then  near  his  departure  for  that  prison  where 
ingrates  are  dealt  with  most  severely. 

The  young  gentlemen,  still  resigned  to  the  fate 
awaiting  them,  and  elated  with  the  hope  of  release, 
were  told  they  must  be  moved  that  night,  conducted 
by  another  guard  to  the  place  of  their  confinement, 
and  there  to  wait  the  issue  of  other  proceedings.  In 
a  short  time  they  were  again  on  their  way,  conducted 
by  Everett  and  the  entire  command,  leaving  Nevelle 
in  his  disguise  at  the  house,  and  in  the  room  where 
Standly  was  left,  yet  alive. 

On  entering  the  apartment,  where  Standly  was, 
Nevelle  found  him  in  great  pain,  and  at  intervals, 
sensible.  In  one  of  the  intervals,  when  a  temporary 
relaxation  was  granted,  Standly  was  heard  to  say, 
"  Gentlemen,  I  am  sick,  and  must  soon  be  no  more  I 
I  am  accessory  to  my  own  miserable  death, — and 
justly  deserved  it.  I  know  of  but  one  capital  cause 
for  its  present  appearance,  and  that  is,  in  its  literal 
sense, — ingratitude  to  those  on  earth,  and  more  so  to 
Him,  before  whom  I  must  shortly  appear!  Not 
satisfied  with,  nor  grateful  for  the  kindness  of  their 


464  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

fathers  to  me,  at  a  fiendish  hour,  and  in  the  desire  of 
a  love  and  possession  of  ill-gotten  gain,  I  conceived 
and  resorted  to  the  execution  of  a  plan  to  take  the 
lives  of  the  sons  of  my  true  friends  and  benefactors ! 
All  I  can  now  do  is,  to  ask  their  pardon  and  forgive- 
ness of  the  atrocious  crime,  and  to  request  you  to  bear 
witness  for  me,  of  the  sincerity  with  which  I  ask  it 
of  them,  so  that  it  may  be,  when  I  go  hence,  a  sort 
of  palliation  in  the  presence  of  the  awful  bar  of 
heaven.  In  a  'few  moments  after  Standly  had  made 
the  confession  as  stated,  he  became  delirious,  and  in 
a  violent  spasm,  the  wretched  man  exhibited  the  life- 
less remains  of  human  nature. 

Nevelle  was  one  of  those,  who,  that  night,  watched 
over  the  corpse,  and  who,  the  next  day,  dispatched  a 
messenger  to  the  "Mountain  Inn"  with  the  intelli- 
gence of  the  death  of  Standly,  whose  nephews,  having 
arrived  there  the  night  before  with  brilliant  hopes  of 
a  speedy  and  long-continued  bliss,  were  instead 
thereof,  mourners  to  the  grave  of  one  from  whom 
they  had  been  taught  to  expect  much. 

The  young  Standly s,  not  aware  of  the  arrival  at 
the  mansion  of  Mr.  Laurence  and  Mr.  Hyne,  were 
unknown  to  tljem,  aided  in  a  genteel  burial  of  their 
uncle.  And  the  day  after  the  interment,  without 
ever  having  seen  the  ladies  for  whom  they  had  come 
to  the  then  "Far  West,"  or  without  knowing  any 
more  than  they  had  witnessed  —  the  remains  and 
burial  of  their  uncle — they  left  the  Inn  with  all  his 
personal  effects,  to  retrace  their  course  back  to  New 
York. 


THE  HEIRES3E3   OF   FOTHEEl^GAT.  465 


CHAPTEE    XLV. 

The  purity  of  love  becomes  refined  by  the  constancy  we  attach  to  it;  ao  it 
is  with  all  other  virtues ;  and  to  the  contrary,  desolation  and  profligacy, 
are  most  apt  to  follow,  in  woman,  however,  less  frequent  than  in  man. 

EVERETT,  in  his  assumed  office  as  sheriff  of  the 
county,  had  nearly  arrived  at  the  Cavern,  when,  after 
a  previous  conversation  with  the  prisoners  upon  the 
treacherous  course  taken  against  them  and  their 
wishes  by  the  late  Standly,  he  said,  "  Gentlemen,  I 
wish  now  to  undeceive  you,  he  who  is  speaking  is  not 
sheriff  of  this  county,  nor  are  they,  by^whom  you  are 
surrounded,  a  guard  legally  authorized  to  take  you  to 
jail.  But  I  am  one  of  those  in  command  of  the 
bandits,  who,  as  you  have,  on-  a  former  occasion 
experienced,  live  upon  the  plunder  taken  from  others, 
in  the  respective  route  of  unsuspecting  travellers 
through  these  mountains.  You  are  now  our  prisoners, 
and  for  whatever  purpose  we  may  intend  you  to 
answer,  however  just  the  claim  may  be  on  the  part 
of  the  State  to  have  and  to  try  you  for  the  offence  of 
which  you  are  accused.  At  a  short  distance  from  here 
is  our  Cavern  or  place  of  head-quarters,  where  you  will 
be  confined  during  the  will  and  pleasure  of  our  chief, 
and  those  associated  with  him,  relative  to  a  final 
decision  upon  your  fate.  You  will,  however,  in  the 
intermediate  time,  be  treated  with  that  sort  of  kind- 
ness and  attention,  awarded  those,  who  from  time  to 
time  of  their  captivity,  may  be  of  least  trouble  to  us 

in  their  confinement." 

30 


486  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"Why  are  we  your  prisoners?"  interrupting  him, 
said  Hyne. 

"  For  reasons  you  cannot  now  know,  but  which 
will  be  developed  in  incidents  hereafter  following," 
replied  the  officer. 

"  We  have  had  enough  of  incidents,  as  you  express 
them,  already,"  continued  Hyne. 

"That  may  be,  so  far  as  you  are  concerned,  but 
there  are  others  to  become  satisfied  of  that,"  returned 
the  officer. 

By  this  time  the  officer  and  his  command  had 
arrived  at  the  Cavern,  which,  for  the  purpose  of 
lighting  and  preparing  it  for  their  reception,  Hardy 
had  been  ordered  to  in  the  early  part  of  that  night 
by  Nevelle. 

We  need  not  here  add  anything  more  relative  to 
the  Cavern  and  its  conveniences,  than  what  has 
already  appeared  before  our  readers. 

The  proper  signal  being  given,  Hardy  soon  an- 
swered from  within ;  the  outer  door  was  opened,  and 
our  prisoners  were  conducted  to  their  apartment  in 
their  now-to-be  temporary  subterranean  abode,  where 
the  fatigues  of  the  past  day,  and  during  a  part  of 
that  night,  soon  brought  to  their  relief  the  refreshing 
sweets  of  profound  sleep. 

Hardy  in  the  continuation  of  the  duties  assigned 
him,  left  nothing  undone  contributary  to  the  comforts 
and  (if  such  a  prison  as  they  were  then  in  can  afford 
it)  amusement  of  his  guests.  Their  repasts  were 
prepared  and  served  up  at  the  proper  hours  in  the 
best  possible  style,  and  so  far  as  his  orders  would 
admit  of,  he  allowed  the  prisoners  the  privilege  of, 


THE   HEIP.ESSES   OF   FOTIIEKINGA.Y.  467 

and  access  to,  all,  save  the  front  apartment  of  the 
"  under  ground  residence." 

The  day  following  the  interment  of  the  remains  of 
Standly,  Nevelle  and  his  command  paid  their  respects 
in  a  call  upon  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  mansion. 
And  after  much  of  the  social  as  agreeable  upon  the 
events  already  known  had  passed,  the  ladies  leaving 
the  parlor,  the  conversation  turned  particularly  upon 
the  wretched  death  of  him,  the  once  favorite  of  the 
merchants  then  present  from  New  York. 

"  If  I  know  myself,  I  could  have  wished  it  other- 
wise than  it  has  turned  out,"  said  Mr.  Laurence. 
"  For,"  continued  he,  "  Standly  was  one  in  whom  we 
had  placed  great  confidence,  and  relied  upon  much 
as  an  assistant  in  bringing  about  the  novel,  it  is  true, 
yet  long  wished  for  and  sincerely  sanctioned,  union 
of  our  families.  His  course  in  that-  portion  of  it 
entrusted  to  his  performance,  has  astonished  me,  and 
affords  a  striking  instance  of  the  injustice  returned  by 
many  for  the  kindnesses  performed  by  the  few."  Then 
addressing  himself  particularly  to  Nevelle,  Mr.  Lau- 
rence continued,  "But  for  yours,  and  the  kindness  of 
your  gallant  associates,  sir,  our  sons  might  have  been, 
this  day  where  Standly  is  now — in  their  graves ! — and 
he  in  the  land  of  the  living!  You,"  continued  our 
merchant,  "have  protected,  defended,  and  are  yet 
guarding  them.  And  ere  long  your  release  of  them 
will  result,  as  it  is  hoped,  in  the  happiness  of  them 
and  their  intended.  And  to  the  credit  as  honor  of 
the  gentlemanly  banditti  of  these  mountains." 

The  remarks  of  Laurence  in  relation  to  the  parts 
performed  by  Nevelle  and  his  command  in  the  plans 
of  the  Heiresses  of  Fotheringay  in  their  love  affairs 


468  THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERIXGAY. 

were  entirely  unexpected  by  his  men,  as  they  were 
by  their  choice-chosen  chieftain.  And  the  latter 
making  a  few,  yet  appropriate,  remarks  in  reply,  he 
and  his  company  a  few  moments  after  left  the 
parlor. 

The  personal  preparations  were  now  being  made 
for  the  several  marriages  that  were  shortly  to  take 
place  at  Fotheringay.  Mr.  Laurence  and  Mr.  Hyne 
had  not  forgotten  the  requisites  in  point  of  dress  of 
their  sons.  The  young  Millers,  had  some  time  since 
prepared  themselves  with  suitable  attire  for  the  hand 
of  the  Misses  Thurmond,  and  the  two  former,  with 
Antoinette  and  Leontine,  had  prepared  and  presented 
to  them  every  article  necessary  on  such  occasions, 
preparatory  to  the  four  weddings  on  one  and  the 
same  night,  to  come  off  at  the  "  Mansion." 

The  presence  of  the  Kev.  Mr.  Clermont  was  con- 
sidered indispensably  necessary.  He  had  been  written 
to  in  a  joint  letter  of  Laurence  and  Hyne  and  Left- 
ridge  to  be  present  at,  and  to  perform  the  ceremony 
of  marriage  on  a  certain  day  fixed  upon.  In  the  same 
letter  was  contained  invitations  to  his  lady  and  their 
two  daughters,  and,  by  way  of  a  continued  demonstra- 
tion of  the  high-toned  sentiments  and  philanthropic 
feelings  with  which  the  three  gentlemen  just  named 
were  possessed,  Long  and  Buford,  with  their  families, 
were  invited  and  especially  requested  to  attend. 

In  like  manner  the  invitations  throughout  the  ex- 
tensive acquaintance  of  Col.  Leftridge  had  gone  out — 
and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  who  were  in  the 
secrets  of  the  then  respective  cabinets  of  love,  (not 
though  at  all  times  to  be  trusted,)  the  general  impres- 
sion was  that  Nevelle  and  Everett  were  to  be  the 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF    FOTUEELNGAY.  469 

joiiied  heirs  to  the  "Heiresses  of  Fotheringay.  And 
what  if  it  turns  out  so !  Eeader,  will  you  be  disap- 
pointed ?  We  think  we  hear  you  say,  "  Wait  till  1 
see  the  end  of  your  work,  and  then  I  shall  tell  you." 
Well,  with  this  promise,  we  shall  again  proceed. 

Aftairs  about  that  time  began  to  assume  a  melan- 
choly as  threatening  appearance  at  the  Cavern. 

One  night  when  Hardy,  in  accordance  with  orders 
given  him,  and  the  pleasure  he  felt  in  doing  so,  had 
prepared  their  supper,  and  had  asked  the  prisoners  to 
take  their  seats  at  the  table,  Laurence  said  to  him, 

"  Mr.  Keeper,  will  you  be  kind  enough  to  us  as  to 
tell  the  officer  in  command  of  your  party  the  night 
you  brought  us  here,  that  we  wish  an  interview  with 
him?" 

"  Now,  sir  ?"  inquired  Hardy. 

"  After  we  have  supped  will  be  time  enough,"  re- 
turned Laurence. 

No  other  remarks  passed  between  Hardy  and  the 
prisoner,  but  as  soon  as  they  had  supped,  and  Eve- 
rett had  taken  his  tea,  he  entered  their  apartment. 

When  Everett  had  seated  himself,  Laurence  said 
to  him,  "  Knowing  no  other  but  our  keeper  and  you, 
sir,  of  your  party,  and  none  to  apply  to  for  the  infor- 
mation wished,  we  desire  in  the  name  of  humanity 
that  you  tell  us  by  what  authority  we  are  here  ?  For 
what  ?  And  what  is  to  be  our  fate  ?" 

As  Laurence  made  his  appeal  to  Everett  the  coun- 
tenances of  both  the  prisoners  portrayed  serenity, 
though  representing  involutions  of  much  depth  of 
thought. 

"Your  questions,  sir,"  replied  Everett,  "are  such 
as  that  time  alone  must  solve ;  and  as  I  have  before 


470  THE   HEIEE3SEJ   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

told  you,  I  say  still,  that  I  cannot,  indeed  dare  not 
answer." 

"  Will  you,  then  ?"  continued  Laurence,  "  answer 
other  questions  which,  by  your  permission,  we  wish 
to  ask  you  ?" 

"  If  I  can,  I  shall  do  so  with  much  pleasure,"  re- 
turned the  gentlemanly  Everett. 

"  Thank  you,"  replied  Laurence,  "  then  I  shall 
proceed." 

"  Do  you  know  the  deaf  and  dumb  ladies  we  have 
been  accused  with  the  crime  of  running  off,  or  steal- 
ing from  the  abode  of  their  parents  ?"  continued  Lau- 
rence. 

"  Slightly,"  replied  Everett. 

"Are  they  well?"  continued  Laurence. 

"  They  ought  to  be,  for  they  are  to  be  married  in  a 
few  days  from  now,"  replied  Everett,  "  to  two  young 
men  of  the  neighborhood." 

"  Have  the  ladies  been  long  engaged  to  them  ?" 
said  Laurence,  in  a  kind  of  faltering  articulation. 

"  Not  very — but  a  short  time,  I  believe,"  returned 
Everett. 

Here,  Laurence  thanking  the  officer  for  the  infor- 
mation he  had  given  them,  and  looking  at  him  with  a 
pleasant  smile,  said,  "We  will  try  and  give  you  and 
your  party,  the  least  possible  trouble  in  the  future  of 
our  existence  here,"  placing  emphasis  on  the  last 
words  of  the  sentence  as  he  expressed  it,  and  himself 
and  Hyne  remaining  in  entire  silence  after  its  expres- 
sion. 

Everett  withdrawing,  pulled  the  door  of  their 
apartment  after  him,  and  leaving  it  just  closed  re- 
mained at  it.  His  fears  of  violence  on  their  persons 


THE    HEIRESSES  OF   FOTHERINGAY.  471 

being  excited  from  the  just  expressed  last  words  of 
Laurence  to  him.  He  had  continued  at  the  door  but 
a  moment  when  a  recurrence  of  that  sort  of  language 
calculated  to  increase  his  suspicions,  fell  in  rapid  suc- 
cession upon  his  listening  ear,  from  the  same  source 
as  had  come  the  first  that  had  caused  his  alarm. 

Raising  his  head  from  an  inclined  position  resting 
upon  his  hand  with  his  elbow  upon  the  table  at  which 
they  were  still  seated,  and  casting  a  wild  vacant  look 
upon  the  walls  of  the  Cavern  and  things  around  him, 
Laurence  continued.  "  They  ought  to  be,  for  they 
are  to  be  married  in  a  few  days  from  now  to  two 
young  gentlemen  of  the  neighborhood."  Then  asking 
the  question  of  Hyne,  "  Did  you  hear  that  ?"  Lau- 
rence continued,  "  It  is  all  over  with  us  now,  Sam.  I 
do  not  wish — and  I  suppose  you  feel  as  I  do — to  let 
'  time  alone  solve'  what^our  confinement  here,  and  the 
information  given  us  by  that  officer  of  the  bandits, 
have  but  too  forcibly  proven,  that  we  have  loved  in 
vain!  and,  that  those  in  whose  bosoms  we  had  thought 
the  pulse  of  purest  affection  beat  for  us,  are  now  the 
chosen  and  betrothed  brides  of  others!  From  signs 
visible  in  yonder  Chamber  of  Death,"  continued  Lau- 
rence, "  nature  will  have  erected  for  us  without  parade, 
and  with  the  cost  only  of  momentary  pain,  a  monu- 
ment as  well  as  a  vault  for  our  remains.  And,"  con- 
tinued Laurence,  "the  few  remarks  we  shall  write  and 
leave  behind  us  in  this  Cavern,  may  serve  as  an 
epitaph  to  our  memories!  What  are  your  opinions 
upon  that  which  I  have  said,  and  by  me  will  be  car- 
ried into  effect  ?" 

"I  had  rather  die  at  once,  than  to  spend  in  slow 


472  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHER1NGAY. 

process  a  miserable  existence  here.  When  will  you 
write  the  remarks  you  speak  of?"  said  Hyne. 

When  we  can  get  the  material  to  do  so  with,  from 
the  keeper,  which  will  be  to-morrow  I  hope,"  replied 
Laurence. 

At  that  remark  our  prisoners  as  calm  and  as  com- 
posed, as  if  they  were  then  in  possession  of  their  lost 
ones  at  the  Mansion,  retired  to  rest — when  Everett 
leaving  his  station,  went  into  the  ante-room  and  re- 
lated to  his  companions  what  he  had  heard. 

The  deliberate  intention  to  suicide  of  the  prisoners 
as  overheard  by  Everett,  were  on  the  following  morn- 
ing communicated  to  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  at  the 
Mansion. 

The  intended  strange  as  unexpected  course  of  the 
prisoners  caused  another  alarm  in  the  minds  of  Antoi- 
nette and  Leontine,  resulting  in  a  determination  with 
them  to  assume  their  former  characters  of  perform- 
ances as  deaf  and  dumb;  and  in  the  feared  tragical  end 
of  those  who  loved  them,  to  show  their  constancy, 
and  to  avert  the  pending  destruction  to  a  last  trial 
given  before  the  entire  completion  of  their  own  yet 
eccentric  way  of  gaining  husbands  in  converting 
lovers  to  their  own  proper  use,  and  requital  of  affec- 
tion. 

A  day  or  two  previous  to  the  aspect  of  affairs  at  the 
Cavern,  so  far  as  yet  known,  Nevelle  had  been  dis- 
patched on  a  matter  which,  though  not  then  under- 
stood by  him,  in  the  nature  of  a  "  love-trap"  (if  allowed 
the  expression)  for  him  and  others,  had  leading  strings 
attached — the  pulling  of  which  by  those  more  expe- 
rienced in  such  delights  terminated  in  that  way. 

We  have  already  seen  that  there  had  been  letters 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEKIXGAY.  473 

written  to  Clermont,  Long  and  Buford.  In  the  one 
to  the  former  gentleman,  and  after  the  close  of  the 
trio,  Mr.  Laurence  and  Mr.  Hyne  added  the  following 
as  a  "  postscript." 

"  The  ladies  here,  as  you  perceive,  have  specially 
requested  your  daughters,  Miss  Long  and  Miss  Bu- 
ford, to  act  as  bridesmaids  in  certain  affairs  here,  and 
have  sent  Mr.  Nevelle  and  the  two  Messrs.  Miller  as 
escorts.  See  that  they  come,  and  you  and  lady  pre- 
vail upon  Madames  Long  and  Buford,  accompanied 
by  their  husbands,  to  come  with  you." 

The  postscription  of  our  merchants  had  the  desired 
effect,  and  the  young  ladies,  accompanied  by  the  gen- 
tlemen spoken  of,  soon  arrived  at  the  "  Mansion." 

Their  pistols  being  taken  and  kept  from  them,  at 
and  since  their  time  of  capture  and  confinement  in  the 
Cavern,  the  mode  devised  by  the  prisoners  to  deprive 
the  heart  of  its  throb,  and  the  body  of  its  action,  was 
but  one  alone  in  their  power,  and  that  one  was — to 
open  the  veins  of  the  neck,  arms  and  thighs  with  their 
razors.  Those  instruments  (of  death  to  them)  they 
had  laid  each  one,  upon  a  crystal  slab  that  lay  in  the 
Cavern,  and  one  at  each  spot  of  the  room  selected  by 
them  to  die  in. 

The  few  articles -of  dress  and  other  personal  valua- 
bles which  the  prisoners  had  been  permitted  to 
retain,  were  all  carefully  deposited  in  their  (then  only 
convenience  for  carrying  clothing)  saddle-bags,  and 
which  had  been  taken  by  them  into  the  Chamber  of 
Death. 

The  few  remaining  hours  they  had  allowed  them- 
selves to  live  were  passed  in  a  melancholy  mood  of 
mind,  and  their  next  object  was  to  obtain  articles  for 


474  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

writing,  and  to  spend  one  mental  exertion  in  letting 
the  world  know  the  indifference  with  which  they 
looked  upon  life  and  time  things,  when  deprived  of 
those  they  loved. 

The  request  of  the  prisoners  to  be  furnished  with 
writing  materials  was  readily  complied  with,  but  they 
knew  not,  nor  had  the  most  distant  idea  of  that  their 
guardian  angel,  in  woman's  shape,  was  in  the  Cavern. 

Alone,  and  the  day  previous  to  that  in  which  they 
intended  committing  the  fixed  upon  "  fatal  act,"  in 
speaking  of  their  approaching  end,  Laurence  was 
heard  to  say,  •"  If  we  cannot  obtain  our  objects  upon 
earth,  we  have  it  in  our  power,  at  least,  to  thwart 
the  proceedings  of  men  against  us.  Then  taking  his 
pen  he  wrote  the  following: 

"  Subterraneous  Prison,  April  25<A,  1802. 

"  The  object  and  end  of  Justice  is  defeated.  If  laws 
are  made  a  nullity  by  irregular  commitment,  and  ex- 
cessive bail  demanded  for  a  bailable  offence,  honor  is 
unsafe  in  such  keeping.  We  prefer  death  to  a  forced 
submission  consequent  upon  indignities  in  prose- 
cution. 

"  Spare  the  (to  us)  strangers,  for  whom  alone  our 
last  pulses  beat;  let  it  suffice  that  we  die  for  them — a 
knowledge  of  which  might  be  to  them  a  sense  of  hor- 
ror. They  are  the  innocent  injured  victims  of  cir- 
cumstances which  they  could  neither  foresee  nor 
avoid. 

"Let  no  one  claim  the  trifling  property  left  in  this 
room — let  it  be  given  to  some  one  in  charity,  without 
parade.  We  have  no  other  estate — we  have  no  wives 
or  children  to  shed  a  tear  at  our  loss  to  them. 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERING-AY.  475 

"  The  spirits  that  once  animated  these  mangled  bo- 
dies disdain  to  ask  the  least  grace  for  them  of  fellow 
worms.  Perhaps  the  first  paragraph  in  this  note  is 
unjust;  if  so,  let  those  it  concerns  be  happy — to  err 
is  human.  Let  no  one  say,  '  too  much,  or  too  little  has 
been  written' — the  dead  cannot  reply." 

When  Laurence  had  finished  and  read  what  he  had 
written  to  Hyne,  they  both  signed,  and  having  folded, 
taken  and  laid  it  with  their  other  effects  in  the  Death 
Chamber,  Laurence  returned  to  their  room.  But  a 
few  moments  had  passed  after  he  had  done  so,  before 
Hardy  entered  their  apartment,  saying,  that,  "two 
ladies  were  in  the  ante-chamber,  wishing  to  see  and 
to  come  into  their  room,  if  permitted  by  them." 

"  Who  are  they,  Mr.  Keeper?"  said  Hyne. 

"If  I  must  tell  you,  sir,  they  have  obtained  permis- 
sion from  our  commander  to  enter  our  quarters  upon 
some  important  occasion,  no  doubt.  I  have  their 
passports  signed  by  our  Captain,  now  in  my  pocket, 
giving  them  general  permission  of  access  here,  sir," 
continued  the  Keeper.  "  And,'  as  I  can  tell  you,  our 
Captain  is  much  of  a  gallant,  he  has  brought  ladies 
here  himself  before  now." 

"Do  you  know  them?"  continued  the  Keeper,  after 
handing  the  passport  to  Laurence — he  and  Hyne 
looking  intently  upon  it. 

"Ellen  and  Susan!  is  it  possible?  What  could 
have  brought  them  here  ?"  was  the  ejaculatory  remark 
of  both  prisoners. 

"  Know  them !  yes,  but  too  well,"  replied  Laurence, 
as  he  folded  and  returned  the  paper.  "  Will  you 
show  them  to  where  we  are,  Mr.  Keeper?"  continued 
Laurence. 


476  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY. 

In  a  little  time  after,  the  long- separated  were  again 
together,  and  while  busily  engaged  in  written  commu- 
nications to  one  anothei,  Hardy,  by  order  of  the  ladies 
had  entered  the  Chamber  of  Death,  arid  removed  from 
their  place  of  deposite  the  razors  belonging  to  our 
prisoners,  and  (as  they  termed  it)  their  "  epitaph." 

The  balance  of  the  paper  that  had  at  their  request 
been  supplied  the  prisoners  in  their  melancholy  mood 
of  tragical  intent  and  operations,  was  being  rapidly 
consumed  in  a  long  catalogue  of  questions  and  written 
answers  returned  by  our  heretofore  seen  devoted 
lovers.  But  it  was  all  to  no  advantageous  definite 
hope,  as  they  supposed,  on  the  part  of  the  prisoners, 
for  to  every  question  asked  by  Hyne  (he  being  the 
interrogator  of  Ellen  for  herself  and  Susan)  her  an- 
swers were  invariably  framed  so  as  to  terminate  with 
"  a  new  era  in  our  affections  have  taken  place,"  and 
it  would  now  be  alike  dishonorable  as  disrespectful 
in  us,  towards  those  we  love  to  say  No."  ' 

A  profound  silence  ensued,  after  several  answers 
had  been  given  in  a  literally  like  language  when 
Laurence  said : — 

"Sam  this  is  proof  sufficient  of  the  treachery  of 
woman's  heart!  How  often  have  those  now  before 
us,  not  only  written  but  have  given  personal  demon- 
stration of  their  profound  love  for,  and  attachment  to 
us !  It  were  madness  to  hope  for,  and  folly  to  think 
on  them  longer.  To-morrow  will  end  all  with  us. 
Let  them  go  their  way,  and  be  happy !  When  needs 
must  we  shall  be  no  more." 

Here  another  tact  in  the  inuendo  design  of  the  ladies 
was  resorted  to,  when  Susan,  as  if  ignorant  of  what 
had  been  said,  again  wrote: — "Gentlemen,  certai.i 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERESTGAY.  477 

that  our  marriages  are  to  take  place  day  after  to- 
morrow ;  knowing  that  you  are  here,  and  not  satisfied 
with  anything  short  of  an  attempt  at  least,  to  have 
you  eye-witnesses  of  the  ceremony  commensurate 
with  our  earthly  bliss.  Ellen  and  myself  have  made 
the  attempt,  and  have  succeeded  in  getting  a  stop  put 
to  further  prosecution,  not  only  on  the  part  of  the 
State,  but  those  of  individuals  against  you  in  your 
late  love  excursion  with  us.  In  our  possession  is  not 
a  forged,  as  others  have  been,  but  properly  authenti- 
cated proof  of  what  is  here  stated. 

When  Ellen  had  jinished  what  she  had  written  to 
Hyne,  the  document  of  their  release  accompanied  it — 
then  continuing  she  wrote — 

"  Know,  that  from  this  hour,  you  are  free.  The 
earnest  as  deeply  impressed  requests  of  our  hearts 
are,  that  you,  in  person,  attend  our  wedding  hour! 
Do  not  refuse  our  request,  as  in  doing  what  we  ask, 
now,  as  a  favor,  you  will  affix  a  lasting  impression 
upon  friendship's  memory  for  you." 

That  unexpected,  sincerely-meant  request,  produced 
another  short  period  of  silence,  when  Hyne  wrote : — 

"  Ladies,  the  edifice  of  affection  erected  for  you, 
and  having  for  its  foundation  the  hearts  that  yet 
throb  within  our  bosoms,  must  henceforth  fall  into 
ruins!  Yet  from  them  a  slender  fabric  of  mere 
friendship  for  you  may  be  constructed — to  totter  in 
separation,  and  ultimately  to  make  memory  a  wilder- 
ness of  despair.  If  our  compliance  with  your  Avish 
be  a  gratification  to  you,  you  shall  have  a  peformance 
of  it ;  but  no  longer  than  to  see  you  in  the  possession 
of  others.  For  then  we  shall  have  important  mat- 
ters of  our  own  to  attend  to,  of  which,  in  the  future 


478  THE    HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERIXGAY, 

of  your  happiness,  you  may  be  at  some  time  ap- 
prised." 

The  indignity  and  want  of  reciprocity  with  which 
our  now  liberated  prisoners  thought  themselves 
treated,  were  rather  sources  of  alarm  than  otherwise, 
to  their  devoted,  though  seemingly  indifferent  in- 
tended ones.  But,  true  to  their  purpose,  Ellen  and 
Susan  were  like  fixtures  in  a  certain  Egyptian  wonder 
of  modern  time,  as  if  about  to  fall — bent  to  the 
accomplishment  of  events  yet  unknown. 

That  kind  of  persuasive  eloquence  of  look  with 
which  Heaven  has  endowed  lovely,  and  particularly 
virtuous  woman,  had  upon  the  minds  of  our  still 
sternly  freed  ones,  at  length  the  desired  effect. 

Not  knowing  that  that  interview  with  them  in  the 
cavern  by  the  ladies  was  the  preliminary  as  final  ar- 
rangement for  the  restoration  to  them  of  all  they  had 
thought  lost,  and  for  the  concentration  of  renewed 
hope,  founded  upon  reality  of  entire  possession  of 
those  they  loved,  and  had  determined  to  die  as  a 
proof  of.  Laurence  and  Hyne  consented  to  accom- 
pany the  ladies,  on  their  return  home,  as  far  as  the 
"  Mountain  Inn."  There  they  had  determined  to  re- 
main, and  had  passed  their  words  to  be  at  the  mansion 
on  the  evening  of  the  weddings,  precisely  at  six 
o'clock. 

That  arrangement  made,  the  gentlemen  requested 
the  ladies  to  remain  seated,  till  they  had  collected 
what  of  effects  they  had  brought  and  had  with  them 
in  the  Cavern. 

Hardy,  being  within  hearing  of  all  that  was  said, 
but  in  the  next  apartment,  immediately  returned 
their  effects  to  the  respective  spots  occupied  by  them 


THE    HEIRESSES   OF   POTHER.' X GAY.  479 

in  the  chamber  of  death,  and  in  the  stead  of  its 
reality,  folded  and  sealed  a  blank  sheet  of  paper, 
representing  that  upon  which  the  so-called  epitaph 
was  written,  concealing  and  subsequently  giving  it  to 
Ellen. 

In  a  little  time  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  at 
the  entrance  of  the  antechamber  doorway  of  the 
Cavern,  where  Sanco  was  in  attendance,  and  who  had 
led  their  own  horses,  equipped  for  service;  those 
belonging  to  the  ladies  being,  as  is  already  known, 
well  trained,  at  the  pointing  of  the  whip  of  their 
mistresses,  came  to  where  they  were;  when,  being 
mounted,  the  four,  attended  by  Sanco,  were  again  on 
their  way  to  the  "  Inn"  and  to  the  "  Mansion." 

The  next  day  the  gallant  huntsmen  returned  to 
their  respective  owners  'the  valuables  and  jewelry 
they  had  borrowed  to  decorate  their  Cavern  with ; 
and  having  nothing  to  do  then  but  to  prepare  for  the 
pleasures  it  had  given  rise  to,  Captain  Nevelle  dis- 
banded his  command,  all  of  whom  were  happily 
rewarded  for  the  tours  they  had  served  in  the  chival- 
ric  campaign,  terminating  in  the  established  bliss  of 
twenty,  and  loss  of  but  one  life. 

As  it  is  affirmed,  "that  there  is  but  one  step  be- 
tween the  sublime  and  the  ridiculous,"  in  like  ratio 
we  think  there  is  but  a  slight  barrier  between  the 
inclination  to  refusal,  and  that  of  acceptance  of  offers 
emanating  from  hearts  that  tally  for  one  another, 
however  magnified  the  alleged  cause  for  separation 
may  be. 

The  day  after  their  arrival  at  the  "  Mountain  Inn," 
Laurence  and  Hyne  received  the  following  note  with 
an  accompaniment 


480  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHEPJNGAY. 

"The  Mansion,  26  April,  1802. 
"  The  last  requests  that  we  shall  ever  ask  of  you 
in  our  present  estates  are,  that  you  will  accept  of  and 
appear  in  to-morrow  night  here,  the  articles  of  dress 
herewith  sent.  "We  make  the  request,  because  its 
compliance  will  assimilate  the  mode  that  certain  others 
are  to  be  costumed  in  on  the  occasion. 

"  Let  us  know  by  the  bearer,  Sanco,  of  your  accep- 
tance or  refusal.  Do  say,  the  former. 

"  ELLEN. 
"  SUSAN." 

"  To  Messrs.  Gr.  L.  Laurence,  Saml.  L.  Hyne,  Moun- 
tain Inn." 

In  the  package  sent  was  an  entire  (though  unknown 
to  them  of  its  purpose,)  wedding-suit  for  each,  which, 
after  being  carefully  examined  by  our  gentlemen, 
their  thanks  to  and  acceptance  of  from  the  ladies, 
were  forthwith  returned. 

The  morning  of  the  27th  April  appeared ;  the  sun 
in  his  glorious  and  brilliant  career  had  commenced  his 
course,  and  not  a  cloud  then,  nor  during  the  day, 
ventured  an  obstruction  to  the  rays  of  light  and 
gentle  warmth  that  was  being  shed  upon  Nature's 
wide  domain. 

Towards  evening,  and  from  every  direction,  were 
seen  ladies  and  gentlemen  on  horseback,  as  they 
arrived  at  the  "  Inn"  and  at  the  "  Mansion." 

Though  they  had  lived  at  the  Mountain  Inn  for 
several  months,  Laurence  and  Hyne  were  strangers  to 
all,  and  being  lookers  on  and  listeners  to  what  was 
passing,  occasionally  heard  remarks  made  among  the 
crowd  that  was  there,  of  "  how  happy  this  night  will 


THE   HEIRESSES  OF   FOTIIERINGAY.  481 

be  to — Nevelle  and  Everett."  For  it  was  a  remark- 
able, as  singular  coincidence,  that  in  none  of  the 
invitations  given,  was  there  a  word  said  of  to  whom 
Antoinette  and  Leontine  were  to  be  married.  Hence, 
conjectures  formed  upon  the  attentions  paid  them  by 
the  gentlemen  mentioned,  caused  the  general  remark  ; 
though  innocent  within  itself,  was  anything  else  but 
pleasant  to  the  ears  of  some  who  heard  it. 

According  to  the  requests  contained  in  the  notes 
of  the  ladies  to  them,  Laurence  and  Hyne  had  dressed, 
and  punctual,  were  at  the  hour  appointed  in  one  of 
the  parlors  at  the  Mansion. 

The  hours  of  the  day  rolled  on,  night  fast  approach- 
ing. And  ere  the  swift- winged  arrows  of  light  had 
disappeared  from  the  horizon,  two  out  of  three 
magnificently  decorated  parlors  on  the  same  floor 
were  crowded  with  feminine  beauty,  waited  upon  or 
attended  to  by  gallant  mountaineers. 

The  parlors  opened  into  one  another  after  form  and 
shape  of  the  letter  T,  and  that  one  not  in  a  direct  line 
with  the  other  two,  was  discovered  with  some  degree 
of  notoriety  as  surprise  to  be  closed  and  locked. 

The  poor  attorney,  the  poor  man  Close,  or  in  other 
words,  the  Maniac,  and  the  keeper  of  Captain  Nevelle's 
head-quarters,  Mr.  Hardy,  were  on  this  occasion 
acting- masters  of  ceremony.  And  the  two  former 
being  personally  acquainted  with  Laurence  and  Hyne, 
were  strict  in  the  directed  disposal  to  be  made  (though 
unknown)  of  them. 

At  half-past  the  hour  of  nine  o'clock,  the  ceremony 
was  to  take  place. 

A  semi-circle  was  formed  by  those  in  possession  of 


31 


482  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

the  arrangements,  extending  from  one  extreme  of  tho 
two  (in  a  line)  parlors  to  the  other. 

Melvin  and  Urnsden  with  their  ladies  and  Madam 
Kayford,  were  placed  at  that  part  of  the  circle  imme- 
diately fronting  the  sliding  door  of  the  third  parlor. 
And  from  a  deference  to  Laurence  and  Hyne  they 
•were  placed  a  little  in  advance  of  the  last  named  gen- 
tlemen, where  they  stood  arm-in-arm.  Thus  arranged 
the  whole  party  could  see  the  door,  yet  closed  and 
locked,  and  when  opened  distinctly  discover  any  move- 
ment therein. 

The  order  of  entry,  by  the  brides,  grooms,  and  their 
respective  attendants,  was  to  be  from  the  outer  door 
of  the  two  parlors,  at  the  foot  of  the  stairway  in  the 
hall.  Thence  proceeding  to  a  position  in  front  of  the 
locked  door,  where  they  were  to  stand  forming  a  line 
on  each  side,  and  leaving  the  view  of  it  clear;  the 
heiresses  with  their  attendants  taking  a  position  at  the 
head  of  each  line  and  near  the  spot  occupied  by  Lau- 
rence and  Hyne. 

Silence,  in  its  most  acute  sense,  presided  over  the 
scene  then  being  presented.  Not  even  a  whisper  or 
move  was  heard  or  seen,  as  intruders  upon  the  mental 
or  occular  powers  then  in  operation  upon  unexpected, 
and  as  yet,  unknown  future  events. 

At  length  the  parlor  door  leading  into  the  hall  was 
opened,  and  a  passway  through  the  line  at  it  being 
made,  were  seen  advancing,  Antoinette  and  Captain 
Nevelle,  attended  by  Miss  Caroline  Clermont,  Laertes, 
and  Armsdale. 

Next  came  Leontine,  attended  by  Miss  Uala  Cler- 
mont, Dorinda  Close,  Lieutenant  Everett,  and  Yancy. 
Next  came  Miss  Jane  Thurmund  and  Thomas  Miller, 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  483 

attended  by  Miss  Elenora  Buford,  Miss  Eliza  Long, 
Clermont,  and  Irwin. 

Next  were  seen,  Miss  Eliza  Thurmund  and  Edmund 
Miller,  attended  by  Miss  Marian  Long,  Miss  Kingetta 
Buford,  George  Washington  and  Green  Close. 

One  of  the  needful  requisites  on  such  occasions  as 
that  of  which  we  are  now  speaking,  and  attempting  to 
describe,  furnishing  the  means  by  which  the  nuptial 
vow  is  made  complete,  and  the  commencement  of 
happiness  or  sorrow  in  it,  as  the  case  may  be.  His 
Eeverenceship  had,  as  yet,  been  nowhere  seen  by  the 
attending  guests  on  the  occasion,  and  every  eye  was 
fixed  on  the  line  formed  by  the  grooms,  their  brides, 
and  those  of  their  honored  select. 

At  that  moment,  'Antoinette  and  Leontine  were  dis- 
covered leaving  the  sides  of  Nevelle  and  Everett,  and 
taking  a  position  side  by  side,  immediately  in  front 
of  and  a  few  steps  distant  from  their  (as  the  gentlemen, 
had  arrived  at  the  conclusion  of)  discarded  lovers. 

If  mental  or  personal  beauty  have  charms,  the 
splendor  of  rich  and  elegant  apparel  is  an  impetuous 
auxiliary  to  the  mind  a'nd  eye,  in  thinking  upon  and 
looking  at  the  respective  differences. 

Here  raising  their  elegant  veils,  and  looking  at  them 
— "  Mr.  Laurence  and  Mr.  Hyne,  Gentlemen,"  at  one 
and  the  same  time,  said  the  ladies.  In  the  next  mo- 
ment, the  young  friends  gazed  at  each  other  in  mute 
astonishment.  "  It  may  well  surprise  you,"  continued 
Antoinette,  "  that  the  deaf  hear  and  the  dumb  speak, 
and  that  on  this  occasion,  and  not  before,  in  their  long 
acquaintance  with  you,  they  have  assumed  the  privi- 
lege, as  well  as  ask  for  the  high  pleasures  they  feel,  in 
doing  so.'' 


484  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY. 

"The  mysteries  with  which  you  have  been  sur- 
rounded since  your  arrival  at  the  Mountain  Inn,  and 
acquaintance  with  us,  commenced  in  the  room  you 
now  are,  are  now  being  solved.  In  their  solution  and 
before  an  eventful  period  now  about  taking  place  with 
us,  is  began,  I  ask  in  my  own  behalf  and  that  of  her 
who  stands  by  my  side,  your  indulgence  while  I  make 
a  few  other  remarks. 

"  There  is  no  time  in  the  life  allotted  to  ladies,  in 
which  they  are  more  free  than  during  their  celibacy. 
In  it  apportioned  to  us,  and  especially  since  our  ac- 
quaintance with  you,  we  have  enjoyed  that  freedom  to 
(connected  with  its  circumstances)  an  unparalleled  ex- 
tent, and  after  such  a  mode  as  may  perhaps,  have 
amounted  in  your  estimation  to  rudeness.  If  so,  we 
here  ask  your  forgiveness,  and  hope  that  ere  I  am 
done  with  what  I  am  saying,  and  which  we  have  a 
right  to  before  a  submerging  of  liberty  into  that  of 
obedient  subjection,  we  will  occupy  another  position 
in  your  mind's-eye,  to  that  which  the  past  might  jus- 
tify— your  slight,  and  consequently  your  neglect. 

"In  tbe  retrospect,  you  had  no  sooner  reached  the 
Mountain  Inn  than  that  which  may  seem  to  have  the 
appearance  of  an  unpardonable  disposition  to  coquetry, 
commenced  with  us  and  under  its  influence  upon  our 
minds  and  practice  of  by  us,  appearances  now  sur- 
rounding you  now  may  be  attributed.  It  was  us, 
who,  on  the  night  of  your  arrival  at  the  Inn  as 
strangers,  played  and  sang,  though  unknown  to,  for 
your  pleasure,  and  led  by  curiosity  to  see  those  we 
had  heard  of,  but  not  the  pleasure  of  knowing  a  sight 
of  you  was  got  in  the  deer  hunt  the  next  morning. 
In  that,  as  well  as  at  subsequent  periods,  down  to  the 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF  FOTHERINGAY.  485 

present  one,  you  were  and  continued  to  be  impressed 
with  the  belief  that  two  of  the  many  personal  misfor- 
tunes incident  to  life  were  ours.  To  the  then  every 
appearance  of  truth  in  what  you  beheld  the  honor  of 
preferment  was  given  in  asking  our  hearts  and  hands. 

"  Not  satisfied  with  the  ascendancy  thus  gained,  we 
still  practiced  duplicity  towards  those  who  deserved  a 
better  reward,  and  to  carry  it.  to  a  still  greater  extent 
the  very  ones  who  you  have  beheld  this  night  con- 
ducting us  to  the  altar  of  love,  were  associated  with 
us  in  the  extent  to  which  that  duplicity  was  practiced 
toward  you.  In  fact,  the  gentlemen  you  have  seen 
conducting  other  ladies  as  we  were  just  now,  were  the 
(as  you  suppose)  banditti  that  accosted  us  on  the 
mountains  the  night  of  our  escape  from  this  house, 
and  who  gave  to  us  the  golden  chains  as  a  passport 
of  yours  and  our  security — nor  was  that  near  all. 
Your  confinement  in  the  Cavern,  and  recent  release 
therefrom,  with  other  strange  circumstances  with 
which  you  have  been  surrounded,  have  taken  their 
origin  in  your  first  sight  of  the  beloved  ones,  as  such, 
deaf  ax\&  dumb. 

"  Though  a  high  sense  of  false  pretensions  were 
seemingly  ours,  and  which,  frequently  we  were  fearful 
of  the  consequences  of,  we  still  clung  with  hope  the 
fonder  to  those  we  loved,  and  could  not  think  for  a 
moment  of  suffering  the  risk  any  longer  of  your  car- 
rying into  effect,  consequent  upon  the  indignities  with 
which  you  had  been  treated  by  us — the  commission 
of  suicide.  Hence  our  late  visit  to  you,  and  earnest 
request  that  you  (and  we  are  more  than  pleased  to  see 
it  complied  with)  would  attend  our  weddings.  The 
deception  practiced  upon  you  had  gone  so  far  as  a 


486  THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY 

change  of  the  names  of  families  found  here  by  you 
had  made  it  necessary  to  do,  to  bring  into  its  proper 
sphere  the  opinions  of  yourselves  relative  to  ladies 
which  you  may  remember  to  have  expressed,  viz : — 

"'She  must  be  a  Venus  to  whom  I  would  say, 
"  Will  you  marry  me  ?"  ' 

"  As  regards  the  names  we  have  gone  by,  they  were 
only  borrowed ;  and  it  is  necessary  on  this  occasion 
here  to  say,  that  you  behold  in  me,  Antoinette,  the 
only  child  of  Colonel  George  Leftridge,  and  in  her 
who  I  hold  by  the  arm,  my  cousin,  Leontine,  daughter 
of  the  late  James  "Withrow,  whose  miniature  and 
watches  were  on  our  persons  the  day  you  become 
offended  at  what  you  thought  a  want  in  us  of  affection 
for  you. 

"  Now,  sirs,  I  take  pleasure  (the  want  of  language  I 
have  not  to  express)  that  you  are  here  for  a  still  more 
valuable  purpose  than  to  be  mere  guests  upon  this 
occasion.  If  we  have  been  coquettes  in  appearance, 
we  have  not  been  so  in  reality ;  but  to  carry  out  the 
certainty  to  you  that  we  are  worthy  of  the  honor  we 
now  claim  of  taking  your  hands,  giving  in  exchange 
for  them  our  own,  and  our  hearts  as  pledges  of  a 
faithful  compliance  with  contracts  now  about  to  be 
entered  into  between  yourselves  and  us." 

Here  placing  their  ajms  upon  those  of  Laurence 
and  Hyne,  Antoinette  and  Leontine  passed  through 
the  lines  to  the  locked  door  of  the  third  parlor,  giving 
their  intended  introductions  to  the  respective  grooms, 
brides,  and  attendants  as  they  passed.  When  An- 
toinette on  arriving  at  the  door  again,  said,  "Among 
other  pleasures  that  will  be  yours,  is  that  of  seeing 
your  friend,  the  Eev.  Mr.  Clermont,  who  officiates  on 


THE   HEIRESSES   OF   FOTHERINGAY.  487 

this,  to  us  and  others,  happy  occasion,  and  who  is  in 
the  room  we  are  about  entering,  where,  also,  you  will 
see  your  fathers !" 

At  that  the  parlor  door  opened,  when  were  seen 
advancing  toward  them  the  gentlemen  mentioned,  ac- 
companied by  Murdock.  The  .late  known  grooms, 
with  their  brides,  resumed  their  stations  in  the  line. 
It  changed  its  position  to  a  front  of  the  circle.  In  a 
few  moments  after,  a  general  expression  of  good  feel- 
ing, hilarity  and  pleasantry  resounded  throughout  the 
expansive  parlors  of  the  Mansion,  rendered  still  more 
pleasant  by  the  music  and  dancing  that  followed. 

In  a  short  period  from  the  time  the  four  weddings 
had  come  off  at  Fotheringay,  others  at  that  time  in  a 
favorable  condition  were  agreeably  fulfilled.  Their 
consummation  strengthened  the  respective  links  of 
friendship. 

Long  and  Buford  were  restored  to  the  favor  of  their 
old  friends.  And  as  for  Hardy,  an  old  bachelor,  who 
the  ladies  liked  to  talk  to  on  general  subjects,  but  not 
love  matters,  he  was,  nevertheless,  a  clever  fellow  in 
his  notions  upon  life,  and  leaving  the  mountains  of 
Virginia  he  put  off  to  New  York,  where  he  lived  for 
several  years  after,  respected  and  esteemed  in  the 
families  of  Laurence  and  Hyne. 

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«            "              "            "           half  calf,  antique,  15  00 
Uluttrated  Edition  is  described  on  next  page. ' 


4       T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS. 
ILLUSTRATED  EDITION  OF  DICKENS'  WORKS. 

This  edition  is  printed  on  very  thick  and  tine  white  paper,  and  is  pro. 
fusely  illustrated,  with  all  the  original  illustrations  by  Cruikshank,  Alfred 
Crowquill,  Phiz,  etc.,  from  the  original  London  edition,  on  copper,  steel, 
and  wood.  Each  volume  contains  a  novel  complete,  and  may  be  had  in 
complete  setts,  beautifully  bound  in  cloth,  for  Eighteen  Dollars  for  the 
sett  in  twelve  volumes,  or  any  volume  will  be  sold  separately,  as  ft  Hows: 


BLEAK  HOUSE,        Price,  $1  50 
PICKWICK  PAPERS,  1  50 

OLD  CURIOSITY  SHOP,      1  50 
OLIVER  TWIST,  1  50 

SKETCHES  BY  "BOZ,"       1  50 
BARNABY  RUDGE,     '         1  50 


NICHOLAS  NICKLEBY,  $1  50 
MARTIN  CHUZZLEWIT,  1  50 
DAVID  COPPERFIELD,  1  50 
DOMBEY  AND  SON,  1  50 

CHRISTMAS  STORIES,  1  50 
DICKENS'  NEW  STORIES,  1  50 


Price  of  a  complete  sett  of  the  Illustrated  Edition,  in  twelve 

vols.,  in  black  cloth,  gilt  back,  $18,00 

Price  of  a  complete  sett  of  the  Hlustrated  Edition,  in  twelve 

vols.,  in  full  law  library  sheep,  $24,00 

Price  of  a -complete  sett  of  the  Illustrated  edition,  in  twelve 

vols.,  in  half  turkey  Morocco,  $27,00 

Price  of  a  complete  sett  of  the  Illustrated  Edition,  in  twelve 

rols.,  in  half  calf,  antique,  $36,00 

All  subsequent  works  by  Charles  Dickens  will  be  issued  i'»  uniform  style  with 
all  the  previous  ten  different  editions. 

CAPTAIN  MARRYATT'S  WORKS. 

Either  of  which  can  be  had  separately.  Price  of  all  except  the  four  last 
is  25  cents  each.  They  are  printed  on  the  finest  white  paper,  and  each 
forms  one  large  octavo  volume,  complete  in  itself. 

PETER  SIMPLE.  NAVAL  OFFICER. 

JACOB  FAITHFUL.  PIRATE  AND  THREE  CUTTERS. 

THE  PHANTOM  SHIP.  SNARLEYYOW ;  or,  the  Dog-Fiend. 

MIDSHIPMAN  EASY.  PERCIVAL  KEENE.     Price  50  cts. 

KING'S  OWN.  POOR  JACK.     Price  50  cents. 

NEWTON  FORSTER.  SEA  KING.     200  pages.     Price  60 

JAPHET  IN   SEARCH   OF  cents. 

A  FATHER.  VALERIE.     His  last  Novel.     Price 

•     PACHA  OF  MANY  TALES.  50  cents. 

ELLEN  PICKERING'S  NOVELS. 

Either  of  which  can  be  had  separately.  Price  25  cents  each.  Theyaje 
printed  on  the  finest  white  paper,  and  each  forms  one  large  octavo  relume* 
complete  in  itself,  neatly  bound  in  a  strong  paper  cover. 

THE  ORPHAN  NIECE.  THE  HEIRESS. 

KATE  WALSINGHAM.  PRINCE  AND  PEDLER. 

THE  POOR  COUSIN.  MERCHANT'S  DAUGHTER. 

ELLEN  WAREHAM.  THE  FRIGHT. 

THE  QUIET  HUSBAND.  NAN  DARRELL. 

WHO  SHALL  BE  HEIR?  THE  SQUIRE. 

THE  SECRET  FOE.  THE  EXPECTANT, 

AGNES  SERLE.  THE  GRUMBLER.  50  eta. 


T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS.       5 
MRS.  CAROLINE  LEE  HENTZ'S  WORKS. 

COURTSHIP  AND  MARRIAGE;  OR,  THE  JOYS  AND  SORROWS 
OF  AMERICAN  LIFE.  With  a  Portrait  of  the  Author.  Complete 
in  two  large  volumes,  paper  cover,  price  One  Dollar,  or  bound  in  one 
volume,  cloth,  gilt,  $1  25. 

THE  PLANTER'S  NORTHERN  BRIDE.  With  illustrations.  Com- 
plete  in  two  large  volumes,  paper  cover,  600  pages,  price  One  Dollar, 
or  bound  in  one  volume,  cloth  gilt,  $1  25. 

LINDA  ;  OR,  THE  YOUNG  PILOT  OF  THE  BELLE  CREOLE.  Com- 
plete in  two  volumes,  paper  cover,  price  75  cents,  or  bound  in  one 
volume,  cloth  gilt,  One  Dollar. 

ROBERT  GRAHAM.  The  Sequel  to,  and  continuation  of  Linda.  Be- 
ing  the  Last  book  but  one  that  Mrs.  Hentz  wrote  prior  to  her  death. 
Complete  in  two  large  volumes,  paper  cover,  price  75  cents,  or  bound 
in  one  volume,  cloth  gilt,  One  Dollar. 

KENA  ;  OR,  THE  SNOW  BIRD.  A  Tale  of  Real  Life.  Complete  in  two 
volumes,  paper  cover,  price  75  cents,  or  bound  in  one  volume,  cloth 
gilt,  One  Dollar. 

MARCUS  WARLAND;  OR,  THE  LONG  MOSS  SPRING.  A  Tale  of 
the  South.  Complete  in  two  volumes,  paper  cover,  price  75  cents, 
or  bound  in  one  volume,  cloth  gilt,  One  Dollar. 

LOVE  AFTER  MARRIAGE ;  and  other  Stories.  Complete  in  two 
volumes,  paper  cover,  price  75  cents,  or  bound  in  one  volume,  cloth 
gilt,  One  Dollar. 

EOLINE;  OR,  MAGNOLIA  VALE.  Complete  in  two  volumes,  paper 
cover,  price  75  cents,  or  bound  in  one  volume,  cloth  gilt,  One  Dollar. 

THE  BANISHED  SON;  and  other  Stories.  Complete  in  two  volumes, 
paper  cover,  price  75  cents,  or  bound  in  one  volume,  cloth  gilt,  $1  00. 

HELEN  AND  ARTHUR.  Complete  in  two  volumes,  paper  cover,  price 
75  cents,  or  bound  in  one  volume,  cloth  gilt,  One  Dollar. 

AUNT  PATTY'S  SCRAP  BAG,  together  with  large  additions  to  it, 
written  by  Mrs.  Hentz,  prior  to  her  death,  and  never  before  published 
in  any  other  edition  of  this  or  any  other  work  than  this.  Complete 
in  two  volumes,  paper  cover,  price  75  cents,  or  bound  in  one  volume, 
cloth,  gilt,  One  Dollar. 

T.  S.  ARTHUR'S  WORKS. 

Either  of  which  can  be  had  separately.  Price  25  cents  each.  They  are 
the  most  moral,  popular  and  entertaining  in  the  world.  There  are  no 
better  books  to  place  in  the  bands  of  the  young.  All  will  profit  by  them. 

YEAR  AFTER  MARRIAGE.  TRIAL  AND  TRIUMPH. 

THE  DIVORCED'WIFE.  THE  ORPHAN  CHILDREN. 

THE  BANKER'S  WIFE.  THE  DEBTOR'S  DAUGHTER. 

PRIDE  AND  PRUDENCE.  INSUBORDINATION. 

CECILIA  HOWARD.  LUCY  SANDFORD. 

MARY  MORETON.  AGNES,  or  the  Possessed. 

LOVE  IN  A  COTTAGE.  THE  TWO  BRIDES. 

LOVE  IN  HIGH  LIFE.  THE  IRON  RULE. 

Till-:  TWO  MKRCHANTS.  THE  OLD  ASTROLOGER. 

LADY  AT  HOME.  THE  SEAMSTRESS. 


6      T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS. 
CHARLES  LEVER'S  NOVELS. 

CHARLES  O'MALLEY,  the  Irish  Drajroon.  By  Charles  Lever.  Com- 
plete in  one  large  octavo  volume  of  324  pages.  Price  Fifty  cents;  or 
an  edition  on  finer  paper,  bound  in  cloth,  illustrated.  Price  One 
Dollar. 

THE  KNIGHT  OF  GWYNNE.  A  tale  of  the  time  of  the  Union.  By 
Charles  Lever.  Complete  in  one  fine  octavo  volume.  Price  Fifty 
cents;  or  an  edition  on  finer  paper,  bound  in  cloth,  illustrated. 
Price  One  Dollar. 

JACK  HINTON,  the  Guardsman.  By  Charles  Lever.  Complete  in  one 
large  octavo  volume  of  400  pages.  Price  Fifty  cents;  or  an  edition, 
on  finer  paper,  bound  in  cloth,  illustrated.  Price  One  Dollar. 

TOM  BURKE  OF  OURS.  By  Charles  Lever.  Complete  in  one  large 
octavo  volume  of  300  pages.  Price  Fifty  cents ;  or  an  edition  on 
finer  paper,  bound  in  cloth,  illustrated.  Price  One  Dollar. 

ARTHUR  O'LEARY.  By  Charles  Lever.  Complete  in  one  large  octavo 
volume.  Price  Fifty  cents ;  or  an  edition  on  finer  paper,  bound  in 
cloth,  illustrated.  Price  One  Dollar. 

KATE  O'DONOGHUE.  A  Tale  of  Ireland.  By  Charles  Lever.  Com- 
plete in  one  large  octavo  volume.  Price  Fifty  cents ;  or  an  edition 
on  finer  paper,  bound  in  cloth,  illustrated.  Price  One  Dollar. 

HORACE  TEMPLETON.  By  Charles  Lever.  This  is  Lever's  New 
Book.  Complere  in  one  large  octavo  volume.  Price  Fifty  cents  ;  or 
an  edition  on-finer  paper,  bound  in  cloth,  illustrated.  Price  One  Dollar. 

HARRY  LORREQUER.  By  Charles  Lever,  author  of  the  above  seven 
works.  Complete  in  one  octavo  volume  of  402  pages.  Price  Fifty 
cents;  or  an  edition  on  finer  paper,  bound  in  cloth,  illustrated.  Price 
One  Dollar. 

VALENTINE  VOX.— LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF  VALENTINE 
VOX,  the  Ventriloquist.  By  Henry  Cockton.  One  of  the  most 
humorous  books  ever  published.  Price  Fifty  cents ;  or  an  edition  on 
finer  paper,  bound  in  cloth.  Price  One  Dollar.. 

PERCY  EFFINGHAM.  By  Henry  Cockton,  author  of  "  Valentine  Vox, 
the  Ventriloquist."  One  large  octavo  volume.  Price  50  cents. 

TEN  THOUSAND  A  YEAR.  By  Samuel  C.  Warren.  With  Portraits 
of  Snap,  Quirk,  Gammon,  and  Tittlebat  Titmouse,  Esq.  Two  largo 
octavo  vols.,  of  547  pages.  Price  One  Dollar;  or  an  edition  on  finer 
paper,  bound  in  cloth,  $1,50. 

CHARLES  J.  PETERSON'S  WORKS. 

KATE  AYLESFORD.  A  story  of  the  Refugees.  One  of  the  most  popu- 
lar books  ever  printed.  Complete  in  two  large  volumes,  paper  cover. 
Price  One  Dollar ;  or  bound  in  one  volume,  cloth,  gilt.  Price  $1  25. 

CRUISING  IN  THE  LAST  WAR.  A  Naval  Story  of  the  War  of  1812. 
First  and  Second  Series.  Being  the  complete  work,  unabridged.  By 
Charles  J.  Peterson.  228  octavo  pages.  Price  50  cents. 

GRACE  DUDLEY;  OR,  ARNOLD  AT  SARATOGA.  By  Charles  J. 
Peterson.  Illustrated.  Price  25  cents. 

THE  VALLEY  FARM;  OR,  the  AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AN  OR. 
PHAN.  A  companion  to  Jane  Eyre.  Price  25  cents. 


T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF. PUBLICATIONS.       7 
EUGENE  SUE'S  NOVELS, 

THE  MYSTERIES  OF  PARIS;  AND  GEROLSTEIN,  the  Sequel  to  it. 
By  Eugene  Sue,  author  of  the  "  Wandering  Jew,"  and  the  greatest 
work  ever  written.  With  illustrations.  Complete  in  two  large  volumes, 
octavo.  Price  One  Dollar. 

THE  ILLUSTRATED  WANDERING  JEW.  By  Eugene  Sue.  With 
87  large  illustrations.  Two  large  octavo  volumes.  Price  One  Dollar. 

THE  FEMALE  BLUEBEARD;  or,  the  Woman  with  many  Husbands. 
By  Eugene  Sue.  Price  Twenty-five 'Cents. 

FIRST  LOVE.  A  Story  of  the  Heart.  By  Eugene  Sue.  Price  Twenty- 
five  cents. 

WOMAN'S  LOVE.  A  Novel.  By  Eugene  Sue.  Illustrated.  Price 
Twenty-five  cents. 

MAN-OF-WAR'S-MAN.  A  Tale  of  the  Sea.  By  Eugene  Sue.  Price 
Twenty-five  cents. 

BAOUL  DE  SURVILLE;  or,  the  Times  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte  in  1810 
Price  Twenty-five  cents. 

SIR  E.  L.  BULWER'S  NOVELS. 

FALKLAND.  A  Novel.  By  Sir  E.  L.  Bulwer,  author  of  "  The  Roue," 
"  Oxonians,"  etc.  One  volume,  octavo.  Price  25  cents. 

THE  ROUE;  OR  THE  HAZARDS  OF  WOMEN.     Price  25  cents. 
THE  OXONIANS.     A  Sequel  to  the  Roue.     Price  25  cents. 
CALDERON,  THE  COURTIER.     By  Bulwer.     Price  12i  cents. 

MRS.  GREY'S  NOVELS. 

Either  of  which  can  be  had  separately.  Price  25  cents  each.  They  are 
printed  on  the  finest  white  paper,  and  each  forms  one  large  octavo  volume, 
complete  in  itself,  neatly  bound  in  a  strong  paper  cover. 

DUKE  AND  THE  COUSIN.  '     THE  YOUNG  PRIMA  DONNA. 

GIPSY'S  DAUGHTER.  THE   OLD  DOWER  HOUSE. 

BELLE  OF'THE  FAMILY.  HYACINTHS. 

SYBIL  LENNARD.  ALICE  SEYMOUR. 

THE  LITTLE  WIFE.  HARRY  MONK. 

MANOEUVRING  MOTHER.  MARY  SEAHAM.     250   pages. 

LENA    CAMERON;    or,   the  Four            Price  50  cents. 

Sisters.  PASSION  AND    PRINCIPLE. 

THE  BARONET'S  DAUGHTERS.  200  pages.     Price  50  cents^ 

GEORGE  W.  M.  REYNOLD'S  WORKS. 

THE  NECROMANCER.  A  Romance  of  the  times  of  Henry  the  Eighth 
By  G.  W.  M.  Reynolds.  One  large  volume.  Price  75  cents. 

THE  PARRICIDE;  OR,  THE  YOUTH'S  CAREER  IN  CRIME.  By 
G.  W.  M.  Reynolds.  Full  of  beautiful  illustrations.  Price  50  cents. 

LIFE  IN  PARTS:  OR,  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  ALFRED  DE  ROSANN 
IN  THE  METROPOLIS  OF  FRANCE.  By  G.  W.  M.  Reynold. 
Full  of  Engravings.  Price  50  cents. 


8       T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS. 
AINSWORTH'S  WORKS. 

JACK  SHEPPARD.— PICTORIAL  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OP 
JACK  SHEPPARD,  the  most  noted  burglar,  robber,  and  jail  breaker, 
that  ever  lived.  Embellished  with  Thirty-nine,  full  page,  spirited 
Illustrations,  designed  and  engraved  in  the  finest  style  of  art,  by 
George  Cruikshank,  Esq.,  of  London.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

ILLUSTRATED  TOWER  OF  LONDON.  With  100  splendid  engravings. 
This  is  beyond  all  doubt  one  of  the  most  interesting  works  ever 
published  in  the  known  world,  and  can  be  read  and  re-read  with 
pleasure  and  satisfaction  by  everybody.  We  advise  all  persons  to 
get  it  and  read  it.  Two  volumes,  octavo.  Price  One  Dollar. 

PICTORIAL  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF  GUY  FAWKES,  The 
Chief  of  the  Gunpowder  Treason.  The  Bloody  Tower,  etc.  Illustrated. 
By  William  Harrison  Ainsworth.  200  pages.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

THE  STAR  CHAMBER.  An  Historical  Romance.  By  W.  Harrison 
Ainsworth.  With  17  large  full  page  illustrations.  Price  50  cents. 

THE  PICTORIAL  OLD  ST.  PAUL'S.  By  William  Harrison  Ainsworth. 
Full  of  Illustrations.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

MYSTERIES  OF  THE  COURT  OF  QUEEN  ANNE.  By  William 
Harrison  Ainsworth.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

MYSTERIES  OF  THE  COURT  OF  THE  STUARTS.  By  Ainsworth. 
Being  one  of  the  most  interesting  Historical  Romances  ever  written. 
One  large  volume.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

DICK  TURPIN.— ILLUSTRATED  LIFE  OF  DICK  TURPIN,  the 
Highwayman,  Burglar,  Murderer,  etc.  Price  Twenty-five  cents. 

HENRY  THOMAS.— LIFE  OF  HARRY  THOMAS,  the  Western  Burglar 
and  Murderer..  Full  of  Engravings.  Price  Twenty -five  cents. 

DESPERADOES.— ILLUSTRATED  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OP 
THE  DESPERADOES  OF  THE  NEW  WORLD.  Full  of  engravings. 
Price  Twenty -five  cents. 

NINON  DE  L'E.NCLOS.— LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF  NINON 
DE  L'ENCLOS,  with  her  Letters  on  Love,  Courtship  and  Marriage. 
Illustrated.  Price  Twenty-five  cents. 

THE  PICTORIAL  NEWGATE  CALENDAR;  or  the  Chronicles  of  Crime. 
Beautifully  illustrated  with  Fifteen  Engravings.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

PICTORIAL  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF  DAVY  CROCKETT. 
Written  by  himself.  Beautifully  illustrated.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF  ARTHUR  SPRING,  the  murderer  of 
Mrs.  EHen  Lynch  and  Mrs.  Honora  Shaw,  with  a  complete  history  of 
his  life  and  misdeeds,  from  the  time  of  his  birth  until  he  was  hung. 
Illustrated  with  portraits.  Price  Twenty-five  cents. 

JACK  ADAMS.— PICTORIAL  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF  JACK 
ADAMS;  the  celebrated  Sailor  and  Mutineer.  By  Captain  Clisunier, 
author  of  "  The  Spitfire."  Full  of  illustrations.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

GRACE  O'MALLEY.— PICTORIAL  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 
GRACE  O'MALLEY.  By  William  11.  Maxwell,  author  of  "  Wild 
Sports  in  the  West."  Price  Fifty  cents. 

THE  PIRATE'S  SON.  A  Sen  Nnvel  of  great  interest.  Full  of  beautiful 
illustrations.  Piic-e  Twenty-live  cents. 


T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS.      9 
ALEXANDRE  DUMAS'  WORKS. 

THE  IKON  MASK,  OR  THE  FEATS  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 
RAO  OLE  DE  BRAGELONNE.  Being  the  conclusion  of  "The 
Three  Guardsmen,"  "  Twenty  Years  After,"  and  "Bragelonne."  By 
Alexandre  Dumas.  Complete  in  two  large  volumes,  of  420  octavo 
pages,  with  beautifully  Illustrated  Covers,  Portraits,  and  Engravings. 
Price  One  Dollar. 

LOUISE  LA  VALLIERE;  OR  THE  SECOND  SERIES  AND  FINAL 
END  OF  THE  IRON  MASK.  By  Alexandre  Duums.  This  work 
is  the  final  end  of  "The  Three  Guardsmen,"  "  Twenty  Years  After," 
"Bragelonne,"  and  "The  Irou  Mask,"  and  is  of  far  more  interesting 
and  absorbing  interest,  than  any  of  its  predecessors.  Complete  in 
two  large  octavo  volumes  of  over  400  pages,  printed  on  the  best  of 
paper,  beautifully  illustrated.  It  also  contains  correct  Portraits  of 
"  Louise  La  Valliere,"  and  "  The  Hero  of  the  Iron  Mask."  Price  One 
Dollar. 

THE  MEMOIRS  OF  A  PHYSICIAN;  OR  THE  SECRET  HISTORY  OF 
LOUIS  THE  FIFTEENTH.  By  Alexandre  Dumas.  It  is  beautifully 
embellished  with  thirty  engravings,  which  illustrate  the  principal 
scenes  and  characters  of  the  different  heroines  throughout  the  work. 
Complete  in  two  large  octavo  volumes.  Price  One  Dollar. 

THE  QUEEN'S  NECKLACE  :  OR  THE  SECRET  HISTORY  OF  THE 
COURT  OF  LOUIS  THE  SIXTEENTH.  A  Sequel  to  the  Memoirs 
of  a  Physician.  By  Alexandre  Dumas.  It  is  beautifully  illustrated 
with  portraits  of  the  heroines  of  the  work.  Complete  in  two  large 
octavo  volumes  of  over  400  pages.  Price  One  Dollar, 

SIX  YEARS  LATER;  OR  THE  TAKING  OF  THE  BASTILE.  By 
Alexandre  Dumas.  Being  the  continuation  of  "  The  Queen's  Neck- 
lace; or  the  Secret  History  of  the  Court  of  Louis  the  Sixteenth,"  and 
"Memoirs*of  a  Physician."  Complete  in  one  large  octavo  Tolume. 
Price  Seventy-five  cents. 

COUNTESS  DE  CHARNY;  OR  THE  FALL  OF  THE  FRENCH 
MONARCHY.  By  Alexandre  Dumas.  This  work  is  the  final  con- 
clusion of  the  "Memoirs  of  a  Physician,"  "The  Queen's  Necklace," 
and  "  Six  Years  Later,  or  Taking  of  the  Bastile."  All  persons  who 
have  not  read  Dumas  in  this,  his  greatest  and  most  instructive  pro- 
duction, should  begin  at  once,  and  no  pleasure  will  be  found  so 
agreeable,  and  nothing  in  novel  form  so  useful  and  absorbing.  Com- 
plete in  two  volumes,  beautifully  illustrated.  Price  One  Dollar. 

DIANA  OF  MERIDOR;  THE  LADY  OF  MONSOREAU;  or  France  in 
the  Sixteenth  Century.  By  Alexandre  Dumas.  An  Historical  Ro- 
mance. Complete  in  two  large  octavo  volumes  of  538  pages,  with 
numerous  illustrative  engravings.  Price  One  Dollar. 

ISABEL  OF  BAVARIA ;  or  the  Chronicles  of  France  for  the  reign  ;/ 
Charles  the  Sixth.  Complete  in  one  fine  octavo  volume  of  211  pages, 
printed  on  the  finest  white  paper.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

EDMOND  DANTES.  Being  the  sequel  to  Dumas'  celebrated  novel  of 
the  Count  of  Monte  Cristo.  With  elegant  illustrations.  Complete  in 
one  large  octavo  volume  of  over  200  pages.  Priee  Fifty  cents. 

THE  CORSICAN  BROTHERS.  This  work  has  already  been  dramatized, 
and  is  now  played  in  all  the  theatres  of  Europe  aad  in  this  country, 
ami  it  is  exciting  an  extraordinary  interest.  Price  Twenty-five  cents. 


10     T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS. 
ALEXANDRE  DUMAS'  WORKS. 

SKETCHES  IN  FRANCE.  By  Alexandre  Dumas.  It  is  as  good  a 
book  as  Thackeray's  Sketches  in  Ireland.  Dumas  never  wrote  a 
better  book.  It  is  the  most  delightful  book  of  the  season.  Prioa 
Fifty  cents. 

GENEVIEVE,  OR  THE  CHEVALIER  OF  THE  MAISON  ROUGE. 
By  Alexandre  Dumas.  An  Historical  Romance  of  the  French  Revo- 
lution. Complete  in  one  large  octavo  volume  of  over  200  pages, 
with  numerous  illustrative  engravings.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

GEORGE  LIPPARD'S  WORKS. 

WASHINGTON  AND  HIS  GENERALS;  or,  Legends  of  the  American 
Revolution.  Complete  in  two  large  octavo  volumes  of  538  pages, 
printed  on  the  finest  white  paper.  Price  One  Dollar. 

THE  QUAKER  CITY;  or,  the  Monks  of  Monk  Hall.  A  Romance  of 
Philadelphia  Life,  Mystery  and  Crime.  Illustrated  with  numerous 
Engravings.  Complete  in  two  large  octavo  volumes  of  500  pages. 
Price  One  Dollar. 

THE  LADYE  OF  ALBARONE;  or,  the  Poison  Goblet.  A  Romance  of 
the  Dark  Ages.  Lippard's  Last  Work,  and  never  before  published. 
Complete  in  one  large  octavo  volume.  Price  Seventy-five  cents. 

PAUL  ARDENHEIM ;  the  Monk  of  Wissahickon.  A  Romance  of  the 
Revolution.  Illustrated  with  numerous  engravings.  Complete  in 
two  large  octavo  volumes,  of  nearly  600  pages.  Price  One  Dollar. 

BLANCHE  OF  BRAND YWINE;  or,  September  the  Eleventh,  1777.  A 
Romance  of  the  Poetry,  Legends,  and  History  of  the  Battle  of  Brandy- 
wine.  It  makes  a  large  octavo  volume  of  350  pages,  printed  on  the 
finest  white  paper.  Price  Seventy-five  cents. 

LEGENDS  OF  MEXICO;  or,  Battles  of  General  Zaehary  Taylor,  late 
President  of  the  United  States.  Complete  in  one  octavo  volume  of 
128  pages.  Price  Twenty-five  cents. 

THE  NAZARENE;  or,  the  Last  of  the  Washingtons.  A  Revelation  of 
Philadelphia,  New  York,  and  Washington,  in  the  year  1844.  Com- 
plete in  one  volume.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

B.  DISRAELI'S  NOVELS. 

VIVIAN  GREY.  By  B.  D'Israeli,  M.  P.  Complete  in  one  large  octavo 
volume  of  225  pages.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

THE  YOUNG  DUKE ;  or  the  younger  days  of  George  the  Fourth.  By 
B.  D'Israeli,  M.  P.  One  octavo  volume.  Price  Thirty-eight  cents. 

TENETIA;  or,  Lord  Byron  and  his  Daughter.  By  B.  D'Israeli,  M.  P. 
Complete  in  one  large  octavo  volume.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

HENRIETTA  TEMPLE.  A  Love  Story.  By  B.  D'Israeli,  M.  P.  Com 
plete  in  one  large  octavo  volume.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

CONTARINA  FLEMING.  An  Autobiography.  By  B.  D'Israeli,  M.  P. 
One  volume,  octavo.  Price  Thirty-eight  cents. 

MIRIAM  ALROY.  A  Romance  of  the  Twelfth  Century.  By  B.  D'Israeli, 
M.  P.  One  volume  octavo.  Price  Thirty-eight  cents. 


T.  B.  PETEKSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS.     11 
EMERSON  BENNETT'S  WORKS. 

CLARA  MORELAND.  This  is  a  powerfully  written  romance.  The 
characters  are  boldly  drawn,  the  plot  striking,  the  incidents  replete 
with  thrilling  interest,  and  the  language  and  descriptions  natural  and 
graphic,  as  are  all  of  Mr.  Bennett's  Works.  336  pagef.  Price  50 
cents  in  paper  cover,  or  One  Dollar  in  cloth,  gilt. 

VIOLA;  OR,  ADVENTURES  IN  THE  FAR  SOUTH-WEST.  Com- 
plete in  one  largo  volume.  Price  50  cents  in  paper  cover,  or  75  cents 
in  cloth,  gilt. 

THE  FORGED  WILL.  Complete  in  one  large  volume,  of  over  300 
pages,  paper  cover,  price  50  cents;  or  bound  in  cloth,  gilt,  price  $1  00. 

KATE  CLARENDON;  OR,  NECROMANCY  IN  THE  WILDERNESS. 
Price  50  cents  in  paper  cover,  or  75  cents  in  cloth,  gilt. 

BRIDE  OF  THE  WILDERNESS.  Complete  in  one  large  volume. 
Price  50  cents  in  paper  cover,  or  75  cents  in  cloth,  gilt. 

THE  PIONEER'S  DAUGHTER;  and  THE  UNKNOWN  COUNTESS. 
By  Emerson  Bennett.  Price  50  cents. 

HEIRESS  OF  BELLEFONTE ;  and  WALDE-WARREN.  A  Tale  of 
Circumstantial  Evidence.  By  Emeison  Bennett.  Price  50  cents. 

ELLEN  NORBURY ;  OR,  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  AN  ORPHAN. 
Complete  in  one  largo  volume,  price  50  cents  in  paper  cover,  or  in 
cloth  gilt,  $1  00. 

MISS  LESLIE'S  NEW  COOK  BOOK. 

MISS  LESLIE'S  NEW  RECEIPTS  FOR  COOKING.  Comprising  new 
and  approved  methods  of  preparing  all  kinds  of  soups,  fish^  oysters, 
terrapins,  turtle,  vegetables,  meats,  poultry,  game,  sauces,  pickle,*, 
sweet  meats,  cakes,  pies,  puddings,  confectionery,  rice,  Indian  meal 
preparations  of  all  kinds,  domestic  liquors,  perfumery,  remedies, 
laundry-work,  needle-work,  letters,  additional  receipts,  etc.  Also, 
list  of  articles  suited  to  go  together  for  breakfasts,  dinners,  and  sup- 
pers, and  much  useful  information  and  many  miscellaneous  subjects  " 
connected  with  general  house-wifery.  It  is  an  elegantly  printed  duo- 
decimo volume  of  520  pages ;  and  in  it  there  will  be  found  One  Thou- 
sand and  Eleven  new  Receipts — all  useful — some  ornamental — and  all 
invaluable  to  every  lady,  miss,  or  family  in  the  world.  This  work  has 
had  a  very  extensive  sale,  and  many  thousand  copies  have  been  sold, 
and  the  demand  is  increasing  yearly,  being  the  most  complete  work 
of  the  kind  published  in  the  world,  and  also  the  latest  and  best,  as, 
in  addition  to  Cookery,  its  receipts  for  making  cakes  and  confec- 
tionery are  unequalled  by  any  other  work  extant.  New  edition,  en- 
larged and  improved,  and  handsomely  bound.  Price  Ono  Dollar  a 
copy  only.  This  is  the  only  new  Cook  Book  by  Miss  Leslie. 

GEORGE  SANDS'  WORKS. 

FIRST  AND  TRUE  LOVE.  A  True  Love  Story.  By  George  Sand, 
author  of"  Consuelo,"  "  Indiana,"  etc.  It  is  one  of  the  most  charm- 
ing and  interesting  works  ever  published.  Illustrated.  Price  50  cents. 

INDIANA.  By  George  Sand,  author  of  "  Fi  t  and  True  Love,"  etc. 
A  very  bewitching  and  interesting  work.  I  nee  50  cents. 

THE  CORSAIR.     A  Venetian  Tale.     Price  2o  cents. 


12     T.  B  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS. 

HUMOROUS  AMERICAN  WORKS. 

WITH  ORIGINAL  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY  BARLEY  AND   OTHERS, 

AND  BEAUTIFULLY  ILLUMINATED  COVEKS. 

We  have  just  published  new  and  beautiful  editions  of  the  following 
HUMOKOUS  AMERICAN  WORKS.  They  are  published  in  the  best 
possible  style,  full  of  original  Illustrations,  by  Darley,  descriptive  of  all  the 
best  scenes  in  each  work,  with  Illuminated  Covers,  with  new  and  beautiful 
designs  on  each,  and  are  printed  on  the  finest  and  best  of  white  paper. 
There  are  no  works  to  compare  with  them  in  point  of  wit  and  humor,  in 
the  whole  world.  The  price  of  each  work  is  Fifty  cents  only. 

THE  FOLLOWING  ARE  THE  NAMES  OF  THE  WOEKS. 

MAJOR  JONES'  COURTSHIP :  detailed,  with  other  Scenes,  Incidents, 
and  Adventures,  in  a  Series  of  Letters,  by  himself.  With  Thirteen 
Illustrations  from  designs  by  Darley.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

DRAMA  IN  POKERVILLE:  the  Bench  and  Bar  of  Jurytown,  and 
other  Stories.  By  "Everpoint,"  (J.  M.  Field,  of  the  St.  Louis 
Reveille.)  With  Illustrations  from  designs  by  Darley.  Fifty  cents. 

CHARCOAL  SKETCHES ;  or,  Scenes  in  the  Metropolis.  By  Joseph  0. 
Neal,  author  of  "  Peter  Ploddy,"  "  Misfortunes  of  Peter  Faber,"  etc. 
With  Illustrations.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

YANKEE  AMONGST  THE  MERMAIDS,  and  other  Waggeries  and 
Vagaries.  By  W.  E.  Burton,  Comedian.  With  Illustrations  by 
Darley.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

MISFORTUNES  OF  PETER  FABER,  and  other  Sketches.  By  the 
author  of  "  Charcoal  Sketches."  With  Illustrations  by  Darley  and 
others.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

MAJOR  JONES'  SKETCHES  OF  TRAVEL,  comprising  the  Scenes, 
Incidents,  and  Adventures  in  his  Tour  from  Georgia  to  Canada. 
With  Eight  Illustrations  from  Designs  by  Darley.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

STREAKS  OF  SQUATTER  LIFE,  and  Far  West  Scenes.  A  S«ries  of 
humorous  Sketches,  descriptive  of  Incidents  and  Character  in  tha 
Wild  West.  By  the  author  of  "  Major  Jones'  Courtship,"  "  Swallow, 
ing  Oysters  Alive,"  etc.  With  Illustrations  from  designs  by  Darley 
Price  Fifty  cents. 

QUARTER  RACE  IN  KENTUCKY,  AND  OTHER  STORIES.  By 
W.  T.  Porter,  Esq.,  of  the  New  York  Spirit  of  the  Times.  With 
Eight  Illustrations  and  designs  by  Darley.  Complete  in  one  volume. 
Price  Fifty  cents. 

BIMON  SUGGS.— ADVENTURES  OF  CAPTAIN  SIMON  SUGGS,  late 
of  the  Tallapoosa  Volunteers,  together  with  "Taking  the  Census," 
and  other  Alabama  Sketches.  By  a  Country  Editor.  With  a  Portrait 
from  Life,  and  Nine  other  Illustrations  by  Darley.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

EIVAL  BELLES.  By  J.  B.  Jones,  author  of  "Wild  Western  Scenes," 
etc.  This  is  a  very  humorous  and  entertaining  work,  and  one  that 
will  be  recommended  by  all  after  reading  it.  Price  Fifty  cents. 


T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS.     13 
HUMOROUS  AMERICAN  WORKS. 

YANKEE  YARNS  AND  YANKEE  LETTERS.  By  Sam  Slick,  alias 
Judge  Haliburton.  Full  of  the  drollest  humor  that  has  ever  emanated 
from  the  pen  of  any  author.  Every  page  will  set  you  in  a  roar. 
Price  Fifty  cents. 

LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF  COL.  VANDERBOMB,  AND  THE 
EXPLOITS  OF  HIS  PRIVATE  SECRETARY.  By  J.  B.  Jomss, 
author  of  "The  Rival  Belles,"  "  Wild  Western  Scenes,"  etc.  Prica 
Fifty  cents. 

BIG  BEAR  OF  ARKANSAS,  and  other  Sketches,  illustrative  of  Charac- 
ters and  Incidents  in  the  South  and  South-West.  Edited  by  Wm.  T. 
Porter.  With  Illustrations  by  Darley.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

MAJOR  JONES'  CHRONICLES  OF  PINEVILLE;  embracing  Sketches 
of  Georgia  Scenes,  Incidents,  and  Characters.  By  the  author  of 
"Major  Jones' Courtship,"  etc.  With  Illustrations  by  Darley.  Price 
Fifty  cents. 

LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF  PERCIVAL  MABERRY.  By  J.  H. 
Ingraham.  It  will  interest  and  please  everybody.  All  who  enjoy  a 
good  laugh  should  get  it  at  once.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

FRANK  FORESTER'S  QUORNDON  HOUNDS  j  or,  A  Virginian  at 
Melton  Mowbray.  By  H.  W.  Herbert,  Esq.  With  Illustrations. 
Price  Fifty  cents. 

PICKINGS  FROM  THE  PORTFOLIO  OF  THE  REPORTER  OF  THE 
"NEW  ORLEANS  PICAYUNE."  Comprising  Sketchss  of  the 
Eastern  Yankee,  the  Western  Hoosier,  and  such  others  as  make  up 
society  in  the  great  Metropolis  of  the  South.  With  Illustrations  by 
Darley.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

FRANK  FORESTER'S  SHOOTING  BOX.  By  the  author  of  "The 
Quorndon  Hounds,"  ''  The  Deer  Stalkers,"  etc.  With  Illustrations  by 
Darley.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

STRAY  SUBJECTS  ARRESTED  AND  BOUND  OVER;  being  the 
Fugitive  Offspring  of  the  "  Old  Un"  and  the  "Young  Un,"  that  have 
been  "  Laying  Around  Loose,"  and  are  now  "tied  up"  for  fast  keep- 
ing. With  Illustrations  by  Darley.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

FRANK  FORESTER'S  DEER  STALKERS  ;  a  Tale  of  Circumstantial 
evidence.  By  the  author  of  "My  Shooting  Box,"  "The  Quormlon 
Hounds,"  etc.  With  Illustrations.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

ADVENTURES  OF  CAPTAIN  .FARRAGO.  By  Hon.  H.  H.  Bracken- 
ridge.  For  Sixteen  years  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  With  Illustrations  from  designs  by  Darley. 
Price  Fifty  cents. 

THE  CHARMS  OF  PARIS;  or,  Sketches  of  Travel  and  Adventures  by 
Night  and  Day,  of  a  Gentleman  of  Fortune  and  Leisure.  From  his 
private  journal.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

PETER  PLODDY,  and  other  oddities.  By  the  author  of  "Charcoal 
Sketches,"  "Peter  Faber,"  Ac.  With  Illustrations  from  original 
designs,  by  Darley.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

WIDOW  RUGBY'S  HUSBAND,  a  Night  at  the  Ugly  Man's,  and  other 
Tales  of  Alabama.  By  author  of  "  Simon  Suggs."  With  original 
Illustrations.  Price  Fifty  cents. 


14     T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS. 
HUMOROUS  AMERICAN  WORKS. 

MAJOR  O'REGAN'S  ADVENTURES.  By  Hon.  H.  II.  Brackenridge. 
With  Illustrations  by  Darley.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

SOL.  SMITH  ;  THEATRICAL  APPRENTICESHIP  AND  ANECDOTAL 
RECOLLECTIONS  OF  SOL.  SMITH,  Esq.,  Comedian,  Lawyer, 
etc.  Illustrated  by  Darley.  Containing  Early  Scenes,  Wanderings 
in  the  West,  Cincinnati  in  Early  Life,  etc.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

SOL.  SMITH'S  NEW  BOOK;  THE  THEATRICAL  JOURNEY-WORK 
AND  ANECDOTAL  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  SOL.  SMITH,  Esq., 
with  a  portrait  of  Sol.  Smith.  It  comprises  a  Sketch  of  the  second 
Seven  years  of  his  professional  life,  together  with  some  Sketches  of 
Adventure  in  after  years.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

POLLY  PEABLOSSOM'S  WEDDING,  and  other  Tales.  By  the  author 
of  "Major  Jones'  Courtship,"  "  Streaks  of  Squatter  Life,"  etc.  Price 
Fifty  cents. 

FRANK  FORESTER'S  WARWICK  WOODLANDS;  or,  Things  as 
they  were  Twenty  Years  Ago.  By  the  author  of  "  The  Quorndon 
Hounds,"  "My  Shooting  Box,"  "The  Deer  Stalkers,"  etc.  With 
Illustrations,  illuminated.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

LOUISIANA  SWAMP  DOCTOR.     By  Madison  Tensas,  M.  D.,  Ex.  V.  P. 

M.  S.  U.  Ky.    Author  of  "  Cupping  on  the  Sternum."    With  Illustra- 
tions by  Darley.     Price  Fifty  cents. 

NEW  ORLEANS  SKETCH  BOOK,  by  "Stahl,"  author  of  the  "Port- 
folio of  a  Southern  Medical  Student."  With  Illustrations  from 
designs  by  Darley.  Price  Fifty  cents. 

FRENCH,  GERMAN,  SPANISH,  LATIN,  AND 
ITALIAN  LANGUAGES. 

Any  person  unacquainted  with  either  of  the  ahove  languages,  can,  with 
the  aid  of  these  works,  be  enabled  to  read,  write  and  speak  the  language  of 
cither,  without  the  aid  of  a  teacher  or  any  oral  instruction  whatever,  pro- 
vided they  pay  strict  attention  to  the  instructions  laid  down  in  each  book, 
and  that  nothing  shall  be  passed  over,  without  a  thorough  investigation 
of  the  subject  it  involves :  by  doing  which  they  will  be  able  to  tpeak,  read 
or  write  either  language,  at  their  will  and  pleasure.  Either  of  these  works 
is  invaluable  to  any  persons  wishing  to  learn  these  languages,  and  are 
worth  to  any  one  One  Hundred  times  their  cost.  These  works  have 
already  run  through  several  large  editions  in  this  country,  for  no  person 
ever  buys  one  without  recommending  it  to  his  friends. 

FRENCH  WITHOUT  A  MASTER.     In  Six  Easy  Lessons. 
GERMAN  WITHOUT  A  MASTER.     In  Six  Easy  Lessons. 
SPANISH  WITHOUT  A  MASTER.     In  Four  Easy  Lessons. 
ITALIAN  WITHOUT  A  MASTER.     In  Five  Easy  Lessons. 
LATIN   WITHOUT  A  MASTER.      In  Six  Easy  Lessons. 

Price  of  either  of  the  above  Works,  separate,  25  cents  each — or  the 
whole  five  may  be  had  for  One  Dollar,  and  will  be  sent  free  of  postage  to 
any  one  on  their  remitting  that  amount  to  the  publisher,  in  a  letter. 


T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS.      15 
WORKS  BY  THE  BEST  AUTHORS. 

FLIRTATIONS  IN  AMERICA;  OE  HIGH  LIFE  IN  NEW  YORK.  A 
capital  book.  285  pages.  Price  50  cents. 

DON  QUIXOTTE.— ILLUSTRATED  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 
DON  QUIXOTTE  DE  LA  MANCHA,  and  his  Squire  Sancho  Panza, 
with  all  the  original  notes.  300  pages.  Price  75  cents. 

WILD  SPORTS  IN  THE  WEST.  By  W.  H.  Maxwell,  author  of  «  Pic- 
torial Life  and  Adventures  of  Grace  O'Malley."  Price  50  cents. 

THE  ROMISH  CONFESSIONAL ;  or,  the  Auricular  Confession  and  Spi- 
ritual direction  of  the  Romish  Church.  Its  History,  Consequences, 
and  policy  of  the  Jesuits.  By  M.  Michelet.  Price  50  cents. 

GENEVRA  ;  or,  the  History  of  a  Portrait  By  Miss  Fairfield,  one  of  the 
best  writers  in  America.  200  pages.  Price  50  cents. 

WILD  OATS  SOWN  ABROAD  ;  OR,  ON  AND  OFF  SOUNDINGS.  It 
is  the  Private  Journal  of  a  Gentleman  of  Leisure  and  Education,  and 
of  a  highly  cultivated  mind,  in  making  the  tour  of  Europe.  It  shows 
up  all  the  High  and  Low  Life  to  be  found  in  all  the  fashionable  re- 
sorts in  Paris.  Price  50  cents  in  paper  cover,  or  75  cents  in  cloth,  gilt. 

6ALATHIEL ;  OR,  THE  WANDERING  JEW.  By  Rev.  George  Croly. 
One  of  the  best  and  most  world-wide  celebrated  books  that  has  ever 
been  printed.  Price  50  cents. 

LLORENTE'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  INQUISITION  IN  SPAIN.  Only 
edition  published  in  this  country.  Price  50  cents ;  or  handsomely 
bound  in  muslin,  gilt,  price  75  cents. 

DR.  HOLLICK'S  NEW  BOOK.  ANATOMY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY, 
with  a  large  dissected  plate  of  the  Human  Figure,  colored  to  Life. 
By  the  celebrated  Dr.  Hollick,  author  of  "  The  Family  Physician," 
"  Origin  of  Life,"  etc.  Price  One  Dollar. 

DR.  HOLLICK'S  FAMILY  PHYSICIAN;  OR,  THE  TRUE  ART  OF 
HEALING  THE  SICK.  A  book  that  should  be  in  the  house  of 
every  family.  It  is  a  perfect  treasure.  Price  25  cents. 

MYSTERIES  OF  THREE  CITIES.  Boston,  New  York,  and  Philadel- 
phia. Revealing  the  secrets  of  society  in  these  various  cities.  All 
should  read  it.  By  A.  J.  H.  Duganne.  200  pages.  Price  50  cents. 

RED  INDIANS  OF  NEWFOUNDLAND.  A  beautifully  illustrated  In- 
dian Story,  by  the  author  of  the  "  Prairie  Bird."  Price  50  cents. 

HARRIS'S  ADVENTURES  IN  AFRICA.  This  book  is  a  rich  treat 
Two  volumes.  Price  One  Dollar,  or  handsomely  bound,  $1  50. 

THE  PETREL;  OR,  LOVE  ON  THE  OCEAN.  A  sea  novel  equal  to  the 
best.  By  Admiral  Fisher.  200  pages.  Price  50  cents. 

ARISTOCRACY,  OR  LIFE  AMONG  THE  "  UPPER  TEN."  A  true 
novel  of  fashionable  life.  By  J.  A.  Nunes,  Esq.  Price  50  cento. 

THE  CABIN  AND  PARLOR.  By  J.  Thornton  Randolph.  It  is 
beautifully  illustrated.  Price  50  cents  in  paper  cover ;  or  a  finer  edi- 
tion, printed  on  thicker  and  better  paper,  aud  handsomely  bound  in 
muslin,  gilt,  is  published  for  One  Dollar. 

LIFE  IN  THE  SOUTH.  A  companion  to  "  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin."  By 
C.  H.  Wiley.  Beautifully  illustrated  from  original  designs  by  Dar- 
ley.  Price  50  cents. 


16     T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS. 
WORKS  BY  THE  BEST  AUTHORS. 

SKETCHES  IN  IRELAND.  By  William  M.  Thackeray,  author  of 
"Vanity  Fair,"  "History  of  Pendennis,"  etc.  Price  50  cents. 

THE  ROMAN  TRAITOR;  OR,  THE  DAYS  OF  CATALINE  AND 
CICERO.  By  Henry  William  Herbert.  This  is  one  of  the  most 
powerful  Roman  stories  in  the  English  language,  and  is  of  itself  suffi- 
cient to  stamp  the  writer  as  a  powerful  man.  Complete  in  two  large 
volumes,  of  over  250  pages  each,  paper  cover,  price  One  Dollar,  or 
bound  in  one  volume,  cloth,  for  $1  25. 

;HE  LADY'S  WORK-TABLE  BOOK.  Full  of  plates,  designs,  diagrams, 
and  illustrations  to  learn  all  kinds  of  needlework.  A  work  every 
Lady  should  possess.  Price  50, cents  in  paper  cover;  or  bound  in 
crimson  cloth,  gilt,  for  75  cents. 

THE  COQUETTE.  One  of  the  best  books  ever  written.  One  volume,  oc- 
tavo, over  200  pages.  Price  50  cents. 

WHITEFRIARS;  OR,  THE  DAYS  OF  CHARLES  THE  SECOND.  An 
Historical  Romance.  Splendidly  illustrated  with  original  designs,  by 
Chapin.  It  is  the  best  historical  romance  published  for  years.  Price 
50  cents. 

WHITEHALL;  OR,  THE  TIMES  OF  OLIVER  CROMWELL.  By  the 
author  of  "  Whitofriars."  It  is  a  work  which,  for  just  popularity  and 
intensity  of  interest,  has  not  been  equalled  since  the  publication  of 
"  Waverly."  Beautifully  illustrated.  Price  50  cents. 

THE  SPITFIRE.  A  Nautical  Romance.  By  Captain  Chamier,  author 
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T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS.     17 
WORKS  BY  THE  BEST  AUTHORS. 

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18     T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS. 
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T.  B.  PETERSON'S  LIST  OF  PUBLICATIONS.     19 
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BY  MRS.  EMMA  D.  E,  N,  SOUTHWORTH. 

AUTHOR  OP  "THE  LOST  HEIRESS,"  "THE  MISSING  BRIDE,"  "WIFE'S  VICTORY," 
"CTTRSE  OF  CLIFTON,"    "DISCARDED  DAUGHTER,"  ETC.,  ETC. 

Complete  in  one  vol.,  bound  in  cloth,  for  One  Dollar  and  Twenty- 
five  Cents ;  or  in  two  vols.,  paper  cover,  for  One  Dollar. 


i  The  announcement  of  a  new  book  by  Mrs.  Sonthworth,  the  author  of  "The  Lost  Heir- 
'ess."  is  a  matter  of  great  Interest  to  all  that  love  to  read  and  admire  pure  and  chaste 
American  works.  It  is  a  new  work  of  unusual  power  and  thrilling  interest.  The  scene 
i«  laid  in  one  of  the  southern  States,  and  the  story  gives  a  picture  of  the  manners  and 
customs  of  the  planting  gentry,  in  an  age  not  far  removed  backward  from  the  present. 
The  characters  are  drawn  with  a  strong  hand,  and  the  hook  abounds  with  scenes  of 
intense  interest,  the  whole  plot  being  wrought  out  with  much  power  and  effect;  and  no 
one,  we  are  confident,  can  read  it  without  acknowledging  that  it  possesses  more  thau 
ordinary  merit.  The  author  is  a  writer  of  remarkable  genius  and  originality — manifesting 
•wonderful  power  in  the  vivid  depicting  of  character,  and  in  her  glowing  descriptions  of 
scenery.  Ilagar,  the  heroine  of  the  "  Deserted  Wife,"  is  a  magnificent  being,  while  Ray- 
mond, Gusty,  and  Mr.  Withers,  are  not  merely  names,  but  existences — they  live  and  move 
before  us,  each  acting  in  accordance  with  his  peculiar  nature.  The  purpose  of  the  author, 
professedly,  is  to  teach  the  lesson,  "  that  the  fundamental  causes  of  unhappiness  in  a 
married  life,  are  a  defective  moral  and  physical  education,  and  a  premature  contraction 
of  the  matrimonial  engagement."  It  is  a  book  to  read  and  reflect  on,  and  one  that  can- 
not fail  to  do  an  immense  amount  of  good,  and  will  rauk  as  one  of  the  brightest  and 
purest  ornaments  among  the  literature  of  this  country. 

READ  THE  SUBJECT  MATTER  OF  THE  DIFFERENT  CHAPTERS. 


Marriage  and  Divorce. 

The  Old  Mansion  House. 

The  Aged  Pastor. 

The  Old  Man's  Darling. 

The  Kvil  Eye. 

The  Philosopher. 

The  Young  Lieutenant. 

First  Love. 

Magnetism. 

The  Phantom's  Warning. 

The  Wanderer's  Death. 

Raymond. 

Fanaticism. 

Ilagar. 

Rosalia. 

The  Attic. 


Gusty. 

The  Moor. 

The  Storm. 

The  Lunatic's  End. 

The  Hunt. 

La  Lionne  de  Chase. 

Hagar's  Bridal. 

The  Love  Angel. 

The  Bride's  Trial. 

The  Forsaken  House. 

The  New  Home. 

The  Midshipman's  Love. 

The  Worship  of  Joy. 

The  Wife's  Rival. 

The  New  Medea. 

The  Bleeding  Heart. 


The  Baptism  of  Grief. 
Fascination. 
The  Forsaken. 
The  Fiery  Trial. 
Return  to  the  Desolate  Ilonn 
Hagnr  at  Heath  Hall. 
The  Flight  of  Rosalia. 
The  Worship  of  Sorrow. 
God  the  Consoler. 
Hagar's  Resurrection. 
A  Revelation. 
Family  Secrets. 
Rosalia's  Wanderings. 
The  Queen  of  Song. 
Rappings  at  Heath  Hall. 
Hagar's  Ovation. 


T.  B.  PETERSON  also  publishes  a  complete  and  uniform  edition  of  Mrs.  Southwortli'n 
other  works,  any  one  or  all  of  which,  of  either  edition,  will  be  sent  to  any  place  in  the 
United  States,  free  of  postage,  on  receipt  of  remittances.  The  following  are  their  names. 
WIE  LOST  HEIRESS.     By  Mrs.  Emma  D.  E.  X.  Southworth.    With  a  Portrait  and  Auto- 

graph  of  the  author.     Complete  in  two  volumes,  paper  cover.    Price  One  Dollar;  or  in 

one  volume,  cloth,  for  One  Dollar  and  Twenty-five  cents. 
THE  MISSING  BRIDE;  OR,  MIRIAM  THE  AVENGER.     By  Mrs.  Southworth.     Two 

volumes,  paper  cover.     Price  One  Dollar;  or  bound  in  one  volume,  cloth,  for  $1  '25. 
THE  WIFE'S  VICTORY;  AND  NINE  OTHER  NOUVELLETTKS.      By  Mrs.  Emma  D. 

E.  N.  Southworth.     It  is  embellished  with  a  view  of  Prospect  Cottage,  the  residence  of 

the  author.     Two  vols.,  paper  cover.     Price  One  Dollar;  or  one  volume,  cloth,  for  $1/25. 
THE  CURSE  OF  CLIFTON.     By  Mrs.  Emma  D.  E.  N.  Southworth.     Complete  in   two 

volumes,  paper  cover.     Price  One  Dollar;  or  bound  in  one  volume,  cloth,  for  $l.~5. 
THE  D.'SCAHDED  DAUGHTER.     By  Mrs.  Emma  D.  E.  N.  Southworth.     Complete  in  two 

volumes.     Price  in  paper  cover,  One  Dollar;  or  bound  in  ouo  volume,  clo.h,  for  $1.25. 


Published  and  for  sale  by 


T.  B.  PETEKSOX, 

No.  1O2  Chestnut  Street,  Philadelphia. 

20 


THE  WIFE'S  VICTORY; 

AND  NINE  OTHER  NOUVELLETTES. 

BY  MRS,  EMMA  D.  E.  N,  SOUTHWORTH. 

Being  the  Most  Splendid  Pictures  of  American  Life  Ever  Written, 

Complete   In  two   volume**,  paper   cover,  Price  Seventy-Five 
Cents;  or  bound  in  one  vol.,  cloth,  for  One  Dollar. 

T.  B.  PETERSON  has  just  published  this  new  and  celebrated  work  by 
Mrs.  Southworth.  The  volume  contains,  besides  "  THE  WIFE'S  VIC- 
TORY,"  NINE  OP  THE  MOST  CELEBRATED  NOUVELLETTES  ever  written  by 
this  favorite  and  world-renowned  American  author,  and  it  will  prove  to  bo 
one  of  the  most  popular  works  ever  issued.  The  names  of  the  Nouvel- 
lettes  contained  in  "  The  Wife's  Victory,"  are  as  follows  : 


THE  WIFE'S  VICTORY. 
THE   MARRIED  SHREW  ;   a 

Sequel  to  the  Wife's  Victory. 
SYBIL     BROTHERTONj     or, 

The  Temptation. 
THE  IRISH  REFUGEE. 
EVELINE  MURRAY]  or,  The 

Fine  Figure. 
WINNY. 


THE   THREE   SISTERS  $   or, 

New    Year's    in     the    Little 

Rough  Cast  House. 
ANNIE  GREY  j  or,  Neighbor'* 

Prescriptions. 
ACROSS     THE     STREET  I     a 

New  Year's  Story. 
THUNDERBOLT      TO      THE 

HEARTH. 


THE  WIFE'S  VICTORY  will  be  found,  on  perusal  by  all,  to  be  equal,  if  not 
superior,  to  any  of  the  previous  works  by  this  celebrated  American  author- 
ess, who  is  now  conceded  by  all  critics  to  be  the  best  female  writer  now  liv- 
ing, and  her  works  to  be  the  greatest  novels  in  the  English  language,  as 
well  as  the  most  splendid  pictures  of  American  life  ever  written.  Either 
one  of  the  ten  nouvellettes  contained  in  this  volume,  is  of  itself  fully  worth 
the  price  of  the  whole  book.  The  Philadelphia  Daily  Sun  says,  in  its  edi- 
torial columns,  that  it  shows  all  the  grace,  vigor,  and  absorbing  interest  of 
her  previous  works,  and  places  Mrs.  Southworth  in  the  front  rank  of  living 
novelists ;  and  that  indescribable  charm  pervades  all  her  works,  which  can 
only  emanate  from  a  female  mind.  Though  America  has  produced  many 
examples  cf  high  intellect  in  her  sex,  none  are  destined  to  a  higher  range 
in  the  annals  of  fame,  or  more  enduring  popularity.  It  is  embellished  with  a 
beautifully  engraved  vignette  title  page,  executed  on  steel,  in  the  finest  style 
of  the  art,  as  well  as  a  view  of  Brotherton  Hall,  illustrative  of  one  of  the 
most  interesting  places  and  scenes  in  the  work. 

"  Mrs.  Southworth  is  the  finest  authoress  in  the  country.  Her  style  is 
forcible  and  bold.  There  is  an  exciting  interest  throughout  all  her  compo- 
sitions, which  renders  them  the  most  popular  novels  in  the  English 
language." — New  York  Mirror. 

"  Her  pictures  of  life  are  vivid  and  truthful." — Sunday  Times. 

"  She  is  a  woman  of  brilliant  genius." — Olive  Branch. 

"  She  is  the  best  fiction  writer  in  the  country." — Buffalo  Expreis. 

Copies  of  the  above  work  will  be  sent  to  any  person  at  all,  to  any  part  of 
the  United  States,  free  of  postage,  on  their  remitting  the  price  of  the  edition 
they  may  wish,  to  the  publisher,  in  a  letter,  post-paid. 

Published  and  for  sale  by  T.  B.  PETERSON, 

No.  1O2  Chestnut  St.,  Philadelphia. 
21 


OMENS'  WORKS. 

Eeprinted  from  the  last  London  Editions,  and  published  by 

T.  B.  PETERSON,  No,  102  Chestnut  St.,  Philad'a 

«•• 

"  PETERSON'S"  is  the  only  complete  and  uniform  edition  of  Charles  Dickens'  works  pub- 
lished iu  America.    The  ch^ap  edition  is  in  Twelve  Volumes,  paper  cover ;  either  or  all  of 
which  can  be  had  separately.    Price  Fifty  cents  each. 
Dickens'    New    Stories.      Containing— The    Seven    Poor  Travellers. 

JCine  New  Stories  by  the  Christmas  Fire.      Hard  Times.     Lizzie  Leigh.      The 

Winer's  Daughters.     Fortune  Wildred,  etc., Price 

Bleak   House, _ _ 

David  Copperneld, 

Dombey  and   Son, 

Nicholas  Nickleby, 

Pickwick  Papers, 

Christmas    Stories.    Containing — A  Christmas  Carol.      The    Chimes. 

Cricket  on  the  Hearth.  Rattle  of  Life.  Haunted  Man,  and  Pictures  from  Italy, 

Martin   Chuzzlewit, 

Barnaby    Rmlge, 

Olcl  Curiosity  Shop,  ...... 

Sketches  by  "  Boz,"  of  Every  Day  Life  and  People 

Oliver  Twist, 

A  complete  Butt  of  the  above,  twelve  volumes  in  all,  will  be  sold,  or  Bent  to  any  one,  to 
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COMPLETE   LIBRARY   EDITION. 

In  FIVE  large  octavo  volumes,  with  a  Portrait  on  steel,  of  Charles  Dickens,  containing 
over  Four  Thousand  very  large  double-columned  pages,  and  hound  in  various  styles. 
Volume   1  contains  Pickwick  Papers  and  Old  Curiosity  Shop. 

"          a        do.       Oliver  Twist,  Sketches  by  "  Boz,"  and  Barnaby 

Radge. 

«'  3        do.       Nicholas  Nickleby  and  Martin  CHuzzlewlt. 

"  4  do.  David  Coppernelcl,  Dombey  and  Son,  Christ- 
mas Stories,  and  Pictures  from  Italy. 

<<  5  do.  Bleak  House,  and  Dickens'  New  Stories  —  Con- 
taining— The  seven  Poor  Travellers.  ISine  New  Stories  by  the 
Christmas  Fire,  Hard  Times,  Lizzie  Leigh,  The  Miner's 
Daughters,  and  Fortune  Wildred,  etc. 

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FINE  ILLUSTRATED  EDITION  IN  TWELVE  VOLUMES. 

This  edition  is  printed  on  very  thick  and  fine  white  paper,  and  is  profusely  illustrate."!, 
with  all  the  original  illustrations  by  Cruikshank,  Alfred  Crowquili.  Phiz,  etc.,  from  the 
/    original   London  editions,  on  copper,  steel,  and  wood.     Kach  volume  contains  a  novel 
'    complete,  and  may  be  bad  in  complete  setts,  or  any  volume  separately,  as  follows: 


Bleak  House, Price  $1  50 


David  Copperfteld, 


J   50 


Pickwick  Papers, 1  50 

Old    Curiosity  Shop, 1  50 


Dombey  and  Son, Price    1  50 

Christmas  Stories,  and  Pic- 
tures from  Italy, 1  CO 

Dickens'  N«-w  Stories.    Con- 


taining— The  Seven  Poor  Travellers. 
Isine  New  Stories  by  the  Christmas 
Fire.  Hard  Times.  Lizzie  Leigh. 
The  Miuer'a  Daughters.  Fortune 
Wildred,  etc., 


Oliver  Twist, 1  50 

Sketches  by  "Boz," 1  50 

Barnuby   Rudge, 1  50 

Nicholas  Nickleby, 1  CO 

Martiu   Chiizzlewit, 1  50       Wildred,  etc., 1  TO 

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Published  and  for  sale  by  T.  B.  PETERSON, 

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HUMOROUS   AMERICAN  WORKS. 

\VITII  ORIGINAL  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY  BARLEY  AND  OTHERS, 
AND  BEAUTIFULLY  ILLUMINATED  COVERS, 


T.  B.  PETERSON,  NO.  102  CHESTNUT  STREET,  PHILADELI  HIA, 
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The  price  of  each  work  is  50  cents  only. 

THE  FOLLOWING  AEE  THE  NAMES  OF  THE  WORKS. 

Major  Jones'  Courtship:  detailed,  with  other  Scene?,  Incidents,  and  Adventures, 
in  a  Series  of  Letters,  by  himself.  With  Thirteen  illustrations  from  designs  by  Darley. 
Price  50  cents. 

The  Drama  in  Pokerville  t  the  Bench  and  Bar  of  Jurytown,  and  other  Stories. 
By  •'  Everpoitit,''  (J.  M.  Field,  of  the  St.  Louis  Reveille.)  With  Illustrations  from  de- 
signs by  Darley.  Price  50  cents. 

Charcoal  Sketches;  or,  Scenes  in  the  Metropolis.  Ry  Joseph  C.  Nenl,  author  of 
"  Peter  Ploddy,"  "  Misfortunes  of  Peter  Faber,"  etc.  With  Illustrations.  Price  CO  cents. 

The    Misfortunes  of  Peter  Faher,   and  other  Sketches.    By  the  author  of 

"Charcoal  Sketches."    With  illustrations  by  Darley  and  others.    Price  50  cents. 
Major  Jones'  Sketches  of  Travel,   comprising   the  Scenes,  Incidents,  and 

Adventures  in  his  Tour  from  Georgia  to  Canada.    With" Eight  Illustrations  from  de- 

gigns  by  Darley.     Price  50  cents. 
The    Yankee    amongst  the  Mermaids,  and  other  Waggeries  and  Vagaries. 

By  W.  E.  Burton,  Comedian.     With  Illustrations  by  Darley.    Price  50  cents. 
Streaks  of  Squatter  Life,  and  Far  West  Scenes.    A  Series  of  Humorous  Sketches 

descriptive  of  Incidents  and  Character  in  the  Wild  West.     By  the  author  of  '•  Major 

Jones'  Courtship."  "  Swallowing  Oysters  Alive,"  etc.  WTith  Illustrations  from  designs  by 

Darley.     Price  50  eents. 
A  Q,uarter  Race   in    Kentucky,  and  other  Stories.    By  W.  T.Porter, 

Esq.,  of  the  New  York  Spirit  of  the  Times.    With  Eight  illustrations  and  designs  by 

Darley.    Complete  in  one  volume.    Price  50  cents. 

The  Ad-ventures  of  Captain    Simon   Suggs,  late  of  the  Tallapoosa  Vo- 
lunteers, together  with  "Taking  the  Census,"  and  other  Alabama  Sketches.      I'y  a 
!    Country  Editor.    With  a  Portrait  from  Life,  and  June  other  illustrations  by  Dariey. 

Price  CO  cents. 
The  Rival  Belles.    By  J.B.Jones,  author  of  « Wild  Western  Scenes,"  etc.    This 

is  a  very  humorous  and  entertaining  work,  and  one  that  will  be  recommended  by  all  after 

reading  it.     Price  50  cents. 
Yankee  Yarns  and  Yankee  Letters.    By  Sam  Slick,  alias  Judge  Ilaliburton. 

full  of  the  'Irollest  humor  that  has  ever  emanated  from  the  pen  of  any  author.     Every 

page  will  set  you  in  a  roar.     Price  50  cents. 
Life  and  Adventures  of  Col.  Vanderhomh,  and  the  Exploits  of 

liis    Private    Secretary.      By  J.  B.  Jones,  author    of  "The    Kival  Belles," 

"  Wild  Western  Scenes,"  etc.    Price  50  cents. 
The  Big  Bear  of  Arkansas,  and  other  Sketches,  illustrative  of  Characters  and 

Incidents  in  the  South  and  South- West     Edited  by  Wm.  T.  Porter.    With  illustrations 

by  Darley.     Price  50  cents. 

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the  ones  they  may  wish,  to  the  publisher,  in  a  letter. 

Published  and  for  sale  by  T.  B.  PETERSON, 

No.  1O2  Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia. ' 
23 


HUMOROUS   AMERICAN  WORKS. 

WITH  ORIGINAL  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY  BARLEY  ANB  OTHERS, 
AND  BEAUTIFULLY  ILLUMINATED  COVERS, 

THE  FOLLOWING  ARE  THE  NAMES  OF  THE  WOKKS. 

Major  Jones'  Chronicles  o'f  Pineville;  embracing  Sketches  of  Georgia 
Scenes.  Incidents,  and  Characters.  By  the  author  of  "  Major  Jones'  Courtship,"  etc. 
With  illustrations  by  Darley.  Price  50  cents. 

The  Life  and  Adventures  of  Perclval  Maberry.    By  J.  II.  Ingraham. 

It  will  interest  and  please  everybody.     Complete  in  one  volume.    All  who  enjoy  a  good 
Ifcugh  should  get  it  at  once.     Price  50  cents. 

Tl»e  Quorndoii  Hounds;  or,  A  Virginian  at  Melton Mowbray.  By  II.  W.  Her- 
bert, Esq.  With  illustrations.  Price  50  cents. 

My  Shooting  Box.  By  the  authorof  "The  Quorudon  Hounds,"  "  The  Deer  Stalk- 
ers," etc.  With  illustrations  by  Darley.  Price  50  cents. 

Stray  Subjects  Arrested  and  Bound  Over;  being  the  Fugitive  Offspring 
of  the  "Old  Un"  and  the  "Young  Un."  that  h:ive  been  "Laying  Arouud  Loose,"  and 
are  now  "  tied  up"  for  fast  keeping.  With  illustrations  by  Darley.  Price  50  cents. 

The  Deer  Stalkers;  a  Tale  of  Circumstantial  Evidence.  By  the  author  of  "  My 
Shooting  Box,"  "  The  Quorndon  Hounds,"  etc.  With  illustrations.  Price  50  cents. 

Adventures  of  Captain  Farrago.  By  Hon.  II.  II.  Urackenridge.  For  six- 
teen years  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
With  illustrations  from  designs  by  Darley.  Price  50  cents. 

The  Charms  of  Paris:  or,  Sketches  of  Travel  and  Adventures  by  Night  and 
Day,  of  a  Gentleman  of  Fortune  and  Leisure.  From  hie  private  journal.  Price  50  cents. 

Pickings  from  the  Portfolio  of  the  Reporter  of  the  "  New  Or- 
leans Picayune."  Comprising  Sketches  of  the  Eastern  Yankee,  the  Western 
Hoosier,  and  such  other?  as  make  up  society  in  the  great  Metropolis  of  the  South. 
With  illustrations  by  Darley.  Price  50  cents. 

Major  O'Regan's  Adventures.  By  Hon.  H.  II.  Brackenridge.  With  illus- 
trations by  Darley.  Complete  in  one  volume.  Price  50  cents. 

Peter  Ploddy,  and  other  oddities.  By  the  author  of  "  Charcoal  Sketches,"  "  Peter 
Faber,"  &c.  With  illustrations  from  original  designs,  by  Darley.  Price  50  cents. 

"Widow  Rugby's  Husband,  a  Ni";ht  at  the  Ugly  Man's,  and  other  Tales  of  Ala- 
bama. By  author  of  "  Simon  Suggs."  With  original  illustrations.  Price  50  cents. 

Sol.  Smith  :  Theatrical  Apprenticeship  and  Anecdotal  Kr col- 
lections of  Sol.  Smith,  Esq.,  Comedian,  Lawyer,  etc.  Illustrated  by  Narley 
Containing  Early  Scenes,  Wanderings  in  the  W«st,  Cincinnati,  in  Early  Life,  eto 
Price  50  cents. 

Sol.  Smith,  Second  Series.  The  Theatrical  Journey-work  and  Anecdotal  Recollections 
of  Sol.  Smith,  Esq  ,  witlAi  portrait  of  Sol.  Smith.  It  comprises  a  sketch  of  the  second 
Seven  years  of  his  professional  life,  together  with  some  Sketches  of  Adventure  in  after 
years.  Price  60  cents. 

Polly  Peablossoni's  Wedding,  and  other  Tales.  By  the  author  of  "  Major 
Jones'  Courtship,"  •'  Streaks  of  Squatter  Life,"  etc.  Price  50  cents. 

The  "Warwick  "Woodlands;  or.  Things  as  they  were  Twenty  Years  Ago.  By 
the  author  of  "  The  Quorndon  Hounds,"  "  My  Shooting  Box,"  "  The  Deer  Stalkers,"  etc. 
With  illustrations,  illuminated.  Price  50  cents. 

Old  Leaves  from  the  Note  Book  of  a  Louisiana  Swamp  Doctor. 
By  Madison  Tensas,  M.  P.,  Ex.  V.  1'.  M.  S.  U.  Ky.  Authorof"  Cupping  on  the  Sternum." 
With  illustrations  by  Darley.  Price  50  cents. 

Aunt  Patty's  Scrap  Bag.  A  Tale  of  Love  and  Jealousy.  By  Mrs.  Caroline  Lee 
Ilcntz,  author  of  "  Kena,"  "  Linda."  "  Mob  Cap,"  "  Ugly  Effie,"  etc.  Price  50  cents. 

The  New  Orleans  Sketch  Book,  by  "  Stahl."  author  of  the  "  Portfolio  of 
a  Southern  Medical  Student."  With  illustrations  from  designs  by  Darley.  Price  50  cents. 

Copies  of  any  one  or  all  of  the  above  works,  will  be  sent  to  any  per- 
son, in  the  United  States,  free  of  postage,  on  their  remitting  the  price  of 
the  ones  they  may  wish,  to  the  publisher,  in  a  letter. 

Published  and  for  sale  by  T.   B.    PETERSON, 

No.  10:3  Chestnut  Street,  Philadelphia. 

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